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Utilities cannot "go dark". The power company couldn't go dark to make a political point. The water and gas companies couldn't either. Google has acquired (f
by dandrews 15y ago
Utilities cannot "go dark". The power company couldn't go dark to make a political point. The water and gas companies couldn't either.
Google has acquired (for better or worse) utility status. Interrupting service to make a political point would do unbelievable damage to Google itself.
Better to just outspend Hollywood, if Google has the will to defeat SOPA.
- Osiris 15y agoIn what way? I don't see how the two equate. Utilities are natural monopolies with strict regulations. They can't shut down because you couldn't just buy your power from someone else. That's not the case at all for Google. Google has every right to suspend offering their service at anytime. The only way the government could force them to stay open would be to buy a controlling interest in the company like they did with the banks.
- dandrews 15y agoYou are correct: my use of the word "utility" was not very rigorous. Nevertheless a lot of people depend on Google, and if Google took themselves down capriciously it would demonstrate that they can't be counted on. Of course they have every right to go black, but I can't help but feel they'd suffer the consequence in a big way. Not even Google can buy a reputation back.