Google's Revenge

On July 14, CNET published an article containing personal information - obtained from Google searches - about Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

That enraged Google. Google promptly instituted a policy of not talking to CNET reporters for a year. Details can be read here. A recent CNET's article confirms this ban (look at the last paragraph).

Why is CNET to blame? CNET simply did a Google search on Eric Schmidt. If nothing else, CNET's article confirms how powerful Google's search can be. I think Eric Schmidt should write a personal thank you note to CNET for validating their technology and for the free publicity. If he insists on blaming somebody, he should blame it on the sites that expose his personal information. One of them being the Fundrace site that keeps track of people's political donations. What about not putting out any money for political donations for a year as a revenge?

But of course, the innocent CNET got blacklisted. I am not surprised. It merely echoes with my earlier story. I wonder how much of Google's resource is dedicated to maintain all these blacklists? With thousands of servers, I am sure it's a non-issue. Larry would be proud that his database is being put to ingenious use.

Jason Stamper, editor of Computer Business Review, said it well, "Blackballing journalists is not big and is not clever. I hope I don't have to explain why a free technology press is important to such a forward-looking company as Google. But perhaps given the fact that it was Playboy that Google granted its exclusive pre-IPO interview to, they do seem to have a slightly odd view of the people they will, and will not talk to."

Mr. Stamper, I pray for you not to be blacklisted like CNET.