Google: The Friend Who Knows Everything About Us

Today, who doesn’t use Google? Whether it’s finding a cheap hotel, a Korean restaurant, train schedules, or even a recipe, Google seems to always have an answer. It’s become an essential tool for millions, to the point where it’s hard to imagine life without it. The magic of Google is its ability to provide answers in seconds, to address almost every question, and to integrate seamlessly into our daily lives. Thanks to Gmail, we can send emails, organize our calendar, and communicate with the world. In the car, Google Maps has become the go-to GPS, guiding us through streets and highways. You can even ask Google about the weather: “Ok, Google, what’s the weather like today?”

An Expanding Tech Empire

Google isn’t just a search engine. It’s a complete ecosystem that includes services like Google Shopping, where you can compare products and buy flight tickets via Google Flights. We spend hours on YouTube, Google’s video platform, watching trending clips or tutorials. All this interconnectivity makes Google a major player in our digital lives. In just 17 years, Google has become the richest search engine in the world, with a revenue of 66 billion euros, expanding its reach at an astonishing pace. Google’s wealth primarily comes from advertising, a sector where it dominates.

The Dark Side of Google

Despite its friendly appearance and free services, Google has a darker side. Behind the image of a “cool start-up,” there’s a reality where everything is designed to maximize employee productivity. At Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, the atmosphere may resemble a vacation club with beach volleyball, shaded relaxation spaces, and terrace lunches. But this laid-back atmosphere masks intense pressure to always be productive, leading some employees to burn out from being constantly online and under pressure.

Google’s financial approach is also controversial. In Dublin, Ireland, it benefits from a favorable tax system to minimize its tax burden, using a financial scheme known as the “double Irish.” This allows Google to transfer profits to tax havens like Bermuda, where the tax rate is 0%, giving Google an effective tax rate of just 2.4% in Europe, far below the average. European authorities are investigating these practices and have fined Google, but this hasn’t stopped its expansion.

Google and Our Privacy

Google knows a lot about us. Through its various services, it collects data on our searches, our locations, our online purchases, and even our interactions with others. This raises serious questions about privacy. Google retains traces of our activities for years, which can be hard to erase. Users who want to remove unwanted traces often face complex procedures, and Google frequently denies such requests.

Google’s influence extends even to schools. Tools like Google Classroom allow teachers to manage virtual classrooms, but they require students to create Gmail accounts, giving Google direct access to young users. This raises concerns about the collection of personal data from a young age.

The Consequences of Google’s Dominance

Google’s dominance in the search engine market has ripple effects in other sectors. Companies like Easy Voyage, which offer flight comparisons, have seen a significant drop in traffic since Google launched its own comparison services. These anti-competitive practices have come under the scrutiny of the European Commission, which has launched an investigation into Google’s abuse of its dominant position.

The question of privacy and data control takes on a new dimension when we learn that Google may share information with intelligence agencies like the NSA. This was revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden two years ago, showing that Google collaborates with authorities without always informing users. Gmail accounts of public and private figures have been searched without their consent, often without their knowledge.

Can You “De-Google” Yourself?

In response to this pervasive data collection, some internet users choose to “de-Google” or at least reduce their dependence on Google. Alternatives exist, such as search engines that do not store search history or secure email services. However, these efforts can be costly and do not always guarantee complete privacy. Traces left on Google can be difficult to erase, and specialized agencies charge thousands of euros to help users clean up their online identity.

To Read: The 8 things to keep private for a fulfilling life according to Stoicism

Google and the Future

Google continues to innovate with ambitious projects like self-driving cars, intelligent robots, hot air balloons to connect the planet to the internet, and even research into immortality. But where will Google stop? This question remains unanswered, but it reminds us of the need to stay vigilant about the power and influence of this internet giant.