To: Larry Page, co-founder, Google
From: David Coursey, Editor-at-Large, SiliconANGLE

Re: It’s not just your image that’s a problem, it’s Google itself

I was heartened to read an Associated Press story last week headlined, “Google Faces Up to Image Problem in Europe.” It reads, in part:

“I wish we’d been more involved in a real debate in Europe,” Google CEO Larry Page said in remarks published by the Financial Times Friday. “That’s one of the things we’ve taken from this, that we’re starting the process of really going and talking to people.”

Some would say Page’s realization comes not a moment too soon.

To comply with the European Court’s May 12 privacy ruling, Google has opened a hotline where Europeans can complain when links to embarrassing personal information turns up in search results. Your company says the information will be removed unless a company-appointed panel says the public’s right to access the information outweighs a complainant’s right to privacy.

“A very significant amount of time is going to be spent in Europe talking,” you reportedly told the Financial Times.

Google doesn’t understand people

 .

Sadly, however, you seem to miss the point. Google does not just have a problem in Europe. And it’s not just an image problem. It’s not that people don’t understand Google it’s that Google doesn’t understand people.

While the US is not part of the EU, is Google really planning to hide behind jurisdictional boundaries? Why can’t American’s, Brazilians, Russians, well everyone, have information removed from your results?

This is one world/one internet and should be one Google. What’s best for Europe should be rolled out worldwide. You could actually be progressive and head of US regulators (maybe).

I know many people who do everything possible to avoid your company’s products and services. Others, like myself, accept the inevitability of Google but look forward to the day when we can get Google out of our lives.

The problem is more than Google’s lack of human-to-human communication, it’s the sort of tone-deafness of a company that’s really an overgrown rich-kid frat house.

• Has Google run out of ideas on improving its core business?

Google needs to take a hard look at itself and how its deals with people’s privacy and their rights. You also need to spend more time making search results more meaningful and less time on creepy video glasses and cars that drive themselves. These projects present Google as a company that’s run out of ideas about how to improve its core businesses.

I am betting that then the next big improvement in search results appears, that it won’t come from Google. In the meantime, I expect to see Google become more of a target for privacy lawsuits and regulations, especially if you limit your attention to Europe.

The entire world deserves a Google that listens to and respects its users. How about giving us one?

photo credit: krissen via photopin cc