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It doesn't matter if the algorithm is known, or unknown in a distributed index, the fact is, any ranking algorithm will be vulnerable to poisoning attacks. Let

It doesn't matter if the algorithm is known, or unknown in a distributed index, the fact is, any ranking algorithm will be vulnerable to poisoning attacks. Let's say you have a completely distributed search index with no ability for a central authority to curate. An attacker wanting to sway the US election would simply flood the internet with fake sites and link farms, designed to attack the weaknesses in a publicly known algorithm. This is in fact, substantially more likely than Google modifying their own system to favor a candidate. What this basically means is he who has the most compute resources wins. Powerful entities could still manipulate the result just as anyone who owns more than 50% of the hashing power in the blockchain can dictate it. Dedicated campaigns can do it too (Santorum anyone?) Any coalition or entity with greater resources than the opposition will have an outsized voice. You're positing a decentralized system absolutely immune from collision or resource constraints, in all likelihood, the systems deployed would have huge compromises that can be manipulated as easy as a Google Bomb, only with less ability to mount a defense. That is, an open index and known algorithm would likely be WORSE at defense against manipulation. One only needs to look at how long it took to develop defenses to spam on USENET/UUCP/NNTP and SMTP. Even today, the defenses are not perfect, and that's after 20 years of sophisticated development. The reality is, if you commit a crime that's in the public record, if you're a felon, or had judgements against you, and your employer is going to discriminate against you, then they will find the information. How the hell do you think this worked before Google? You think background checks for job candidates only started when Google launched? The government, marriage, police, and civil court case databases are all public. If I want to find out if you're a criminal or a cheat, I don't need Google. Your argument that I should 'dox' myself if I feel people shouldn't have a right to retract information from the internet doesn't make any sense. It's precisely because I don't believe you can ever retract such information that I don't post my sex tapes with Kim Kardashian. If I knew I could censor whatever I want, then I'd feel free to dump all kinds of information I don't want to get out. If someone decides to spread your info on the internet, censoring Google won't save you. People taking revenge carpet bomb information all over many resources like Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Twitch, Wikipedia. Ask the women harassed in the GamerGate fiasco if the biggest issue was Google searches, or social network spam. Have you not seen Encyclopedia Dramatica? IMHO, if you want to deal with discrimination over knowledge of your public records, pass anti-discrimination laws. Don't rely on security-through-obscurity. If you're living a lie, sooner or later your workplace will find out.

ocdtrekkie 11y ago
You seem to be assuming everyone is using and contributing to a single index, or that everyone's using the same ranking algorithm. Both are problematic. Yes, you can file checks with government agencies or what-have-you, the problem is Google isn't a government agency. Google is the court of Google. You don't even have to be guilty to be sentenced for life by it. Ray, I've never met you, but if I claim that you've molested a child or something, there's a possibility, depending where that's said, that it becomes attached to your name in search results. Even with no official court record, evidence, etc. your name may be permanently tainted. Your unwillingness to dox yourself is a problem because for millions of people every year, it's not a choice. Let's say I have your social security number, and I post it online. As far as your viewpoint is concerned, (you can't remove anything from the Internet), your identity is permanently compromised, for life. What would you do if that happened, what would be your first step? You're suggesting it's okay that crimes against you involving your personal information should be permanent and irrevocable. Privacy IS security-through-obscurity. Time and time again, I've seen that Googlers fail to grasp that concept. Privacy = obscurity. And if you are opposed to obscurity, than you're similarly opposed to privacy.

ocdtrekkie 11y ago

You seem to be assuming everyone is using and contributing to a single index, or that everyone's using the same ranking algorithm. Both are problematic. Yes, you can file checks with government agencies or what-have-you, the problem is Google isn't a government agency. Google is the court of Google. You don't even have to be guilty to be sentenced for life by it. Ray, I've never met you, but if I claim that you've molested a child or something, there's a possibility, depending where that's said, that it becomes attached to your name in search results. Even with no official court record, evidence, etc. your name may be permanently tainted. Your unwillingness to dox yourself is a problem because for millions of people every year, it's not a choice. Let's say I have your social security number, and I post it online. As far as your viewpoint is concerned, (you can't remove anything from the Internet), your identity is permanently compromised, for life. What would you do if that happened, what would be your first step? You're suggesting it's okay that crimes against you involving your personal information should be permanent and irrevocable. Privacy IS security-through-obscurity. Time and time again, I've seen that Googlers fail to grasp that concept. Privacy = obscurity. And if you are opposed to obscurity, than you're similarly opposed to privacy.