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Google, once a loved and respected company, is starting to lose that love, respect and trust from their users. From privacy issues to openly selling illegal ads and now to being busted by a con man.
The Wall Street Journal had a story named Con Artist Starred in Sting That Cost Google Millions. Here are some excerpts from the story:
Wearing leg irons and guarded by federal agents, David Whitaker posed as an agent for online drug dealers in dozens of recorded phone calls and email exchanges with Google sales executives, spending $200,000 in government money for ads selling narcotics, steroids and other controlled substances.
Mr. Page, now Google's chief executive, knew about the illicit conduct, said Mr. Neronha, the U.S. attorney for Rhode Island who led the multiagency federal task force that conducted the sting. "We simply know from the documents we reviewed and witnesses we interviewed that Larry Page knew what was going on," he said in an interview after the August settlement.
You have to read the whole story - it is pretty shocking and eye opening.
Google - you need to go back to your roots and give people a reason to love the culture of the company again.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Image credit to ShutterStock for con cartoon.
Comments:
Jeremy Myers
01/27/2012 03:20 pm
What happened to "Don't be Evil"?
Guest
01/27/2012 03:51 pm
One lesson you learn on the street as a kid is an honest man never tells you he is honest, he just is. A liar and a thief is always asking and wanting something from you and telling you some sort of bs line about themselves to try and con you. Apply that logic and experience to any US corporation and see what you figure out.
Sjf Mba
01/27/2012 04:15 pm
That went out the window long ago. Too much money involved for them to "Don't be evil". Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Door Handles
01/27/2012 05:36 pm
This has been annoying that they have breached this. As mentioned, money always plays its part in corruption.
Asdf
01/27/2012 05:55 pm
It's still there, they just never said WHO shouldn't be evil.
Voice of Reason
01/27/2012 07:08 pm
Many knew what Google really is. Who believes Matt Cutts and that other fraud, Amit Singhal when they say that Google doesn't manipulate search results? A small change may mean billions more for Google, and it's harder to catch than selling painkillers, steroids and illegal abortion pills. Each SERP change is designed to make Google more money.
Beth LK
01/28/2012 12:55 am
With it looking more & more like Google is going down hill where/how are those of you who make/made the bulk of your $ from adsense going to make money from? I make about 90% of my $ from adsense and as selfish as it may sound I am worried...
Patrick C
01/28/2012 08:28 pm
Google gets caught doing something illegal that supposedly netted them a cool $1.5 billion they do not get charged (just give us a third say's the GOV.)two class criminal justice system if you can pay you'll never do a day as for G well you can take the most honest man and make him King and he will probably succumb to power and greed we should all just change our search habits or were telling them it's okay we will accept corruption as long as i does not affect me.
Owenjaggi
02/02/2012 03:35 am
Google lost there credibility with me when they sold out in china for the almighty buck starts here (google) . People don,t seem to understand that every amount of privacy you allow to be taken away from you also takes away from your civil liberties. What Google and Facebook are trying to do is illegal ; it is unconstitutional . It may not seem to be a big thing now, however the next time a bill comes up in congress similar to the patriot act they will just point to Google and Facebook and say look people really don,t mind being tracked . The internet must remain free ; it is the only peaceful way we have to keep our corrupt government in check . The Constitution and the Bill of rights was written so that ................ We the people ! could keep our government in check . Just remember every time you allow yourself to be tracked on the internet ; you are chipping away at your own civil rights .