• Google and the Department of Justice
• Google Takes the Rap for the Tech Gang of 4
• Google Street View - Not Illegal, Maybe Antisocial
• Human Rights and the Web

Al Gore is an advisor to Google but I would not say that he "works for Google".

Scott McNealy of SUN Microsystems is the originator of the phrase 'There isn't any privacy; get over it." I think his use and mine were somewhat tongue in cheek but considering how much content pours into the net each day, one really does have the sense that privacy is going to be in short supply in the long term.

Vint Cerf

Posted by: vint cerf on September 10, 2008

Good Evening, Mr. Cerf,

It's an honor to see you here, and I thank you for taking the time to comment on my article.

I can understand that the printed word often fails to convey the expressive intention behind the spoken word. It's a limitation of the alphabet I suppose, but the quote I've cited above has clearly resonated with an increasing fear some Americans are expressing about their basic (yet complex) rights, like privacy.

This is a subject about which I feel concern. Similar quotes from Google employees/associates regarding the fact that we are moving toward an age devoid of privacy seem to overlook the fact that it is companies like Google which are taking us there.

It's seldom one gets something for nothing in this world, and the price users (knowingly or unknowingly) pay for using Google's brilliant services is having their data collected for the purpose of analysis and personalization of SERPs and advertising. It's a profitable business model for Google, but one for which the rest of the human race has yet to experience potential costs.

It does concern me when there appears to be conflict coming from citizens I admire - men like Al Gore - who are promoting citizen privacy in regards to the government and yet giving their seal of approval to Google. People are complex, of course, but mixed messages tend to confuse all of us, and though I sincerely enjoyed Gore's book, it made me wonder about his true stance regarding such important issues.

I'd imagine you're getting rather weary of having people re-publish that quote of yours, Mr. Cerf. It has obviously called forth a strong response, and maybe, for that reason alone, is worth discussing.

Thank you again for taking the time to comment. It would be a pleasure to see you here again at any time.
Miriam

Posted by: MiriamEllis on September 11, 2008

AlGore created a firestorm with his Global Warming propaganda. Only trouble is, that it's a made up problem full of junk science and "selected" observations.

And you can tell he doesn't really believe a thing he says. His home is a "carbon footprint" disaster. He blithely cut down trees next to the Grand Canyon and had them dumped into the canyon just so a publicity shot of him would have an unobstructed scenic view to back it up. He forced an unnecessary release of water from a dam just so he could be photographed canoing down a river that had the bald audacity to be too low for his canoe. Heck, the eeeeevil George Bush has a better conservation record than the holy Gore (Bush's Texas home is a model of energy and water conservation).

But whatever you think of Global Warming, the fact is that Gore and his cohorts have used this phony phenomenon to reduce our freedoms rather than increase it. In the holy name of Global Warming, entire industries have been destroyed, civil rights trampled on, and tax money spent on some of the silliest programs I've ever seen in my 64 years of life (and yes, I'm old enough to remember the "Global Cooling" scare of the late 60's and 70's).

So, it's no surprise to hear AlGore once again saying one thing and doing another.

Posted by: Al Kalar on September 11, 2008

Americans especially are prone to a high degree of hypocricy where business and ethics are involved (though it's a universally-suffered ill). Al Gore isn't immune to it. The article's point however, isn't Gore's "greenness" per se but his financial role in a monopolistic enterprise and the implications this has for personal privacy and freedom. One can argue the fine points of Gore's role in Google all day long, but in summation, if he gets paid by them, he is in their employ.
In its early life, Google was the white-hat good guy, championing an Internet unconstrained by the 800 lb gorilla that was/is Microsoft. The tables have turned now: since going public, the controlling interests of Google have an obligation to maximize profit for the corporation's shareholders. In our current business environment, that will cause conflicts of interest, of morality, of ethics.
What is needed more than ever is a clear definition of the boundaries between acceptable profit-capture and economic savagery; a boundary that CEOs, shareholders, and consultants can freely discuss. For such an environment to exist across competing and disparate businesses, some policing organization must have the ability to moderate corporate behavior - i.e. governmental control. Which, after creating, becomes the potential source for the very ills it seeks to cure.

Posted by: jayclimbs on September 12, 2008

Hello Al,
I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on this subject. We may have to agree to disagree about Gore's sincerity. It's my opinion that he went through an episode of personal enlightenment after putting aside his political career. He came out of this evidently very dedicated to the health of the planet. I do think he believes what he is saying, but have no doubt you know things about him that I don't that give you good reason to question him.

Thanks for commenting!
Miriam

Astute comments, JayClimbs. This one strikes me as especially true:

"Which, after creating, becomes the potential source for the very ills it seeks to cure."

I think you are quite right in identifying the complicated atmosphere in which corruption, monopoly and special interest goals trump any concern for public welfare.

Perhaps, our best hopes for combating both corporate or governmental abuses are citizen watch-dogging and whistle blowing. But, turn these things into paid position, organized positions or prestigious positions and power struggles begin all over again.

I read your remarks with great interest. Please, stop by again.
Miriam

Posted by: MiriamEllis on September 12, 2008