Re: [tlug] MS vs Google

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com>]

Nicolas Limare writes:

 > So, Google may or may not be evil, may or may not be the next
 > Microsoft, or anything you want. But my point is that the Google fuel
 > is data.

Sure.  But *my* point is that the distinction between sucking in data
and allowing it to flow freely matters not just to us, but to Google,
too.  Note that Google feeds on the (more or less) free flows of data,
both truly public and those where users share social-networking-style.
Vint Cerf (look him up if you don't know who he is) surely knows that
to change that to a Microsoft "All data yours now ours are" Passport-
(to-Hell-)style model will stuff them royally.

That doesn't mean they won't do something stupid if the competition
ever looks like it's catching up, but the good ol' Invisible Hand is
pushing Google in the direction of public benefit which is no part of
its intention.[1]


Footnotes: 
[1]  ごめんね、スミス大恩師