Googles ever reaching arm of control, and why you should care.

Posted on  •  29/08/2011  • 

We are all hearing a lot about the Google+ names policy lately. Someone made the mistake of letting Eric Schmidt out of his cupboard for long enough to put in his two cents, where he ended up calling the platform an 'identity service', not a social network.

Google have been strictly enforcing their new policy, one that requires people to use their real names. If they think you're not doing that? Be prepared to have to prove to Google that it is your real name in order to get back on the platform.

I'm not going to do into the details of the nymwars here, but I am going to give a perspective which appears to be getting largely ignored. Many people are saying what a great idea it is, make people accountable, make people transparent. Others simply don't care and would just like to get on with it, without being bombarded by nymwars perspectives (hey, guess what, you can uncircle people - You don't have to read it).

The 'real names' policy is nothing new. It's present on other services too, which is part of the reason that many are wondering why we're kicking up such a fuss, so, here you go.

Other companies may have a real names policy in place, but when do you ever see them being enforced? When do you ever see a company scouring through profiles of its users and telling them 'that's not your real name!'? It just doesn't happen. Google are telling people that their real names are in fact not their real names, and are expected to hand over information to prove otherwise. You are guilty until proven innocent, and goddamn you have to do a lot to be proven innocent. Instead of just saying 'hey, use your real name please' and then allowing people to get on with it, they are saying 'you MUST use your real name because if you don't, we're going to suspend all those services you've been using for years'. And before anyone decides to comment and say 'those services are free', clearly you have no idea how Google, and other companies like them, make their money. Or as Dave as just insisted I say... Fuck you.

The biggest implication that I can see here is a harrowing one. What Google are doing right now could potentially spread to other sites. It may be setting a precedent on the web. A clampdown on anonymity, security and privacy. If Google can continue to enforce this policy, and the backlash is largely ignored, there is little to nothing from stopping other companies, other services, from doing exactly the same thing. How far this could spread is anyones guess.

There is money to be made off personal details, off your data, off the things you do online, and everyone is going to want to cash in. If Google gets away with it, you can be damn sure there is nothing stopping others.

Google is an industry leader, what they do is watched carefully by others around the web. If Google does it, it's effectively giving permission to others to do exactly the same thing. Force you to use your real name. This means that not only are you 'accountable' and 'transparent' on Google services, but everywhere else as well. Why not force you to throw in your date of birth too? That way, they know you're old enough to be using the service! If they think it's not your real date of birth? Get ready with the birth certificate.

Schmidt came out to tell people that governments will demand real names are used. What kind of thoughts does that inspire? Oh yes, ones of Governments being able to see what you're doing. Full accountability in plain sight of anyone who wishes to see it.

Having this happen on google is a scary thing indeed. You already have unique identifiers which tell Google exactly what you're doing. Now that's linked to your name. Now that's all on a database. In future, what's to stop this reach from extending beyond Google? Where everything you do, every activity you enjoy on the internet right now, has the stipulation of transparency involved? It will also make you incredibly searchable. Have strong political views? Ever spoken about it publicly? Let's just hope a future employer isn't of a different mindset. Everyone will be open to scrutiny.

This is the beginning of a fight. A very, very big fight. Right now the scope is on Google and Google alone. There is much more to look at here, a lot outside of Google and its services which you can 'opt out' of. If you want to keep your life, your name, your data your own, does that mean in future you're going to have to opt out of everything you currently enjoy? Every new form of communication that has been introduced into your life? That you use frequently? Don't be too surprised when the reach stretches that little bit further. And that little bit further again.

Recently someone from inside the tech industry talked to me openly and honestly about where he felt the web was heading. And this is exactly the kind of thing he touched on. In future, if you want anonymity, security, privacy or just a right to be yourself without someone, somewhere, having a right to that information, you should be prepared to fight for your digital rights. One day you will need aliases and VPNs if you want to avoid the watchful eye of corporations and governments alike.

If Google continue down this path, the potential of a precedent could be dangerous to your liberties and mine. Don't let it happen.