5 ms·
If Google purports to be a search engine and then gives preference to search results that benefit them, it's ethically similar to an fiduciary adviser recommend
by mangeletti 11y ago
If Google purports to be a search engine and then gives preference to search results that benefit them, it's ethically similar to an fiduciary adviser recommending things that make him rich without regard for your well being. Google is not in a fiduciary relationship to you, but a similar ethical situation arises because fair competition (which laws protect in most countries - e.g., including anti-trust laws here in the US) is hard to be had when one company is tricking its customers (by making their ads look similar to search results) into thinking they're getting more for less (e.g., getting free search when in actuality they're being led to potentially less desirable products for Google's monetary gain).
If Google instead purported to be a "find products we like to recommend" engine, this situation wouldn't arise. I suspect less people would use their service in this case, and that should illustrated the point: if the value of your service decreases when you tell the truth, then you're, by definition, gaining an a business advantage by being dishonest.
- kbenson 11y agoAre these paid shopping comparisons, or whatever Google finds itself and tries to usefully show to users? If it's the latter, your statement should read as follows: If Google purports to be a search engine and then gives preferences to search results that benefit their users (making Google indispensable), it's ethically similar to an fiduciary adviser recommending things that make his clients rich (making himself indispensable). Being indispensible has its own benefits and value.
- kazinator 11y agoPeople using Google search are not customers. They are visitors to a free web site where you can type stuff into a box, and other stuff appears of that web site's choosing. There are various assurances made or implied about what that stuff consists of. Those come from the website itself, so you're foolish if you completely believe them. How about people who use other free stuff? People who load up GNU/Linux and log in to a Bash promp --- are they "GNU customers"? Does GNU have a monopoly because the users don't bother to find out about other operating systems and believe all the evangelizing which tells them that GNU/Linux is the best?
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- ocdtrekkie 11y agoThat is true. As we all know, if you use Google, you're the product being sold.
- PretzelFisch 11y agoExcept Google has no fiduciary responsibilities to search consumers.