At what point did Google sell out and become evil?

[Red Storm]

I haven't paid close enough attention, but being publicly traded is a likely suspect. A publicly traded company's primary concern is the shareholder, not the customer.

This is probably the best answer. I think it applies to every company.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/06/google-silicon-valley-nsa-spying

Google: From "Don't Be Evil" to Evil Empire?

 

[crashtestdummy]

They're not 'evil' but they've never been "the good guys" either. They're just a company; sometimes they do good, sometimes they do bad.

Pretty much this. We laud them when they disrupt an industry we don't like, but then we get very uncomfortable when they dominate said industry.

There are things I like about them and things that concern me. I like their general policy of giving the user free reign over what they provide. They could easily have locked down their phones and chromebooks far more than they do (Apple-style) but prefer that users play with the toys they provide as they see fit. On the other hand, since their business model depends on advertising, they're determined to make sure every action you perform on the internet notifies a Google server (including the Google cookie on this forum). I know Google has no interest in me personally, but I still feel ever so slightly squicky about that.

 

[waggy]

Day one.

"Do no evil" was just a marketing slogan...not actual operating practice.

i never bought into the "do no evil" bullshit. though it was one hell of a marketing slogan. at the time being the "anti Microsoft" was huge

There is also Costco, which believes in better profits through better employees, and in better employees through better pay, training, and turnover rates.

and stealing property via eminent domain.

 

[Vic Vega]

Google became evil when they started all their insane privacy stuff 6-7 years ago.

Back in the day their cookie NEVER expired.