Comments on: Google SideWiki Extorts Google Network Participation

By: jersey

jersey — Thu, 20 May 2010 11:26:42 +0000

very powerful,

By: jersey

jersey — Thu, 20 May 2010 06:26:42 +0000

very powerful,

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:47:01 +0000

Google has finally turned against the very people that put them on the map. Google you are not changing the internet for the better, you are changing the internet for your own agenda. We need to contact our government and put a stop to this! I’m seeing a lot of legality issues here.

By: John

John — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:08:04 +0000

I for one am seriously opposed to Googles sidewiki, for the main reason that my web visitors pay to use my service. Sidewiki provides a platform that could potentially allow them to completely bypass this payment system.

By: Will Fastie

Will Fastie — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:36:48 +0000

I think Sidewiki is okay if and only if Google does the following:

1. Verifies the identity of every poster and requires that all posts use the person’s real name. Reason: Anonymous posters are much more likely to slander and if a site owner attempts to sue, Google ends up being the target if they can’t identify the slanderer.

2. Provides a Web-based mechanism outside the Google Toolbar that allows site owners to view the entire content of the Sidewiki. Reason: I think Google is on thin legal ice if negative comments are posted but the only way they can be seen is with the installation of Google-provided software. That sounds like a protection racket.

So what my idea boils down to is Google making sure I can see what it has enabled others to do to me and letting me see my accuser face-to-face.

Seriously, opt-out or opt-in is required. If Google doesn’t offer one of those, Google will no longer be our friend.

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:46:49 +0000

From a legal standpoint I think Google could be taking on a huge liability/responsibility:
1) they would, or could be, modifying the data stream that was intended by the site owner through it’s hosting company. Ex: what if this were a stock site, or all the www retail sites.
2) what if they, or others via Google, use it to manipulate customer choices. this could possibly cripple some site owners by crippling sales
3) provides a potentially unfair advantage against approved, paid advertisers…including Google’s own adsense buyers.

This is not the “next social integration”. It’s control. It’s over the top.

By: Gab Goldenberg

Gab Goldenberg — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:31:26 +0000

Brilliant analysis there John. Didn’t even consider that angle. Google would respond, “We’re not evil. We wouldn’t do that. [6 months on] Oh shit, we have to add AdWords to support the costs of SideWiki.” Now everyone’s part of the Adsense network!

By: James Stein

James Stein — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:32:20 +0000

Some of us are fed up with google trying to control the entire web and now our own websites. As a developer of over 15 years, I have had enough and I am fixing to release a solution that does not require javascript and hash numbers.

Once released it will be updated and improved upon as much is needed.

It is time to fight back and protect our rights …

James

By: John

John — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:00:55 +0000

Let’s be straight about this, Google is serving unwanted and unmanageable comments on my site using a piece of crappy scumware. I’d be surprised if it wasn’t completely consistent with Google’s long held strategy of grabbing as much content as it can without having to pay for or even honour the author’s rights, e.g. Google Book search. They do this because at heart they are a massive advertising agency, and they need more ‘real estate’ to serve more ads against. How long before adwords appear on SideWiki?

Don’t be evil? Don’t make me laugh.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:17:37 +0000

It sounds like you’ll have to participate or die trying. It is going to be a spam nightmare and marketers will find out how to use it and make big money at the expense of others. At some point, Google is going to be the recipient of a big, fat class action lawsuit brought about by businesses that have been unnecessarily harmed by the G side wiki. One can only hope. I love many things that Google has done, but this has the potential to be a first class nightmare for anyone with a website, or 10. The idea they can basically just let anyone with a G account add content to your site without permission or desire is almost too incredible to believe.