Correct me if I am wrong, but it is not a secret that Google is gathering data from Internet users with any tools they put on the table for our benefit and of course for “free.” They store anything we search for, all of our emails and anything we do in generally. Lets just imagine what a big amount of information Google’s database has about web users. People just grant them the right to callect in exchange for Google services. As a result what they do with this data is up to them (it is definitely resuming to marketing and control), but we should keep in mind tha all power they possess come from daily users.

            The big problem here is about data collecting and the fact that users agree with that without any concerns. It totally resembles absolute monarchy… And everything may be completed soon with the only thing they don´t have yet (or at least we don´t know about) and that is political power.

            The autocratic formula is as menacing as can be, that is that people are told that they must purely and simply submit that “a quia nominor leo”, to the fact that lions exist. But why should we allow them to be on the loose, instead of caging those “lions.” There are no confronting propositions:

“Let Google control the information, and Web population control the Google.”

               …I thing an interesting approach was suggested by  OMFICA (www.omfica.org). It assumes voluntary 
 participation of any Internet user in creation of alternative Web  databases. Moreover, by becoming OMFICA member each 
user  may have influence on Google’s activities by participating in on-line elections or being nominated to become a delegated 
representative to  the Board of Directors, since the governing body is formed based on the  online voting of the members. The 
goal is to keep the databases under control of the internet users. This is the only way of search transformatoinevitable future of 
Internet. The only way to get there is search revolution.

Democracy and Web search engines

            The significance of the Web in various aspects of our life is unquestionnable. Less well known is the impact of Web search engines on what information we find and consume. Given that 75% of Web users rely on search engines as the primary means to pass through the Web (Bruemmer, 2001), the significance of search engines in an information society should not be underestimated. The sheer size of the Web makes it impossible for a single search engine to cover all Web pages in existence. Different search engines cover different parts of the Web. As websites that are covered by search engines are much more visible and accessible to Web users, the selective coverage of the Web by search engines has great social and political implications.

            Given this political and social significance of search engines, it is important to explore the following questions:

1. Do search engines provide an equal representation of websites?
2. How the concept of “equality” is measured in relation to the websites.

             By “equal” representation, we mean that the same proportion of websites from different sources is covered, so as to ensure that websites from different sources have an equal chance of being presented to Web users. And in case of “biased” representation the imply may be that this unequality is the result of commercial intentions. This claim seems to be grounded, since the search engine market  is dominated by a few monopolies who take the biggest share of the market.  Until the present “market failure” exist the unequal representation will continue to persist.

            To conclude with, first things must come first and basic democratic principles must preceede any substantive achievement maid on the way of Search Engine development. That is any by-product (search-results) presupposes the machinery, the method that produces them. And Web population users  are not required to love or hate the “machine” – they should aim to control it.

References:

Bruemmer, P. (2001). Search engine marketing: Luxury or necessity? Retrieved March 1, 2007 from http://www.searchengineguide.com/wi/2001/1120_wi1.html

I sent my Soul through the Invisible,
Some Letter of that After-life to spell:
   And by and by my Soul return'd to me,
And answer'd "I Myself am Heav'n and Hell:" 

Omar Khayam

Am I getting older ? I believe that I'm not that stupid... but again I couldn't prepare well for my midterm exam on Microeconomics. The linear algebra is not for me, probably.... not - DEFINITELY. How can I be a postgraduate student? And do I really need this? I spent my tyme for nothing.... I spent my tyme for getting another "B".

What's happening to the world? I live my life - that is working, watching TV, reading (last read Beissinger's article)... Sounds not clear, maybe.... but I concluded that the democracy that many people and states supposed to achive, will remain only as an abstract and theoretical idea and ideal. I won't go to pecularities :))))))))).
 How did this idea came to me? Hmm, I'm working on my paper on agenda setting, and took "blogs" as independent body that truly can set agenda........ But as I read more, I understand that blogs are not at all independent, other forces (3rd elements) influence blogging, dictate them how to frame the issues (especially political).

Sound so sad to me, so sad...... Media was supposed to be free..... It is not so....... No blogs.