How Google App Engine Kills Startups, Tricks Consumers
By DONNA BOGATIN • Apr 8th, 2008 • Category: BIG PICTURE
There they go again! Fool them once, shame on Google, Fool them twice, shame on them!
Google’s latest attempt at Internet shock and awe replays the by now traditional Google routine of “giving away” Web services under the guise of disinterested benevolence while the Web cheers the supposed Googley revolutionary Internet disruption and forecasts doom for existing players, such as Amazon, for this example.
In typical Google fashion, though, “free” comes at a very high price. In fact, the Google App Engine product unveiled by the high-flying corporation is in contention for the scariest Google move to date.
Not only do startups using Google App Engine unwittingly put control of their businesses in the sole discretionary hands of Eric Schmidt and company, unwitting consumer users of Google App Engine hosted services automatically “share” all of their personal, proprietary data with Google, whether they really want to or not.
WHAT GOOGLE APP ENGINE REALLY MEANS, For Businesses and Consumers
Take Down Obligations: What Google Can Do To Hosted App Engine Web Sites
Pre-screen, review, flag, filter, modify, refuse or remove any or all content from the service.
In the event App Engine applications elect not to comply with a request from Google to immediately take down content, Google may directly take down such content or disable the application.
Non-Performance Clause: How Google Puts All Risk and Liability on App Engine “Customers”
You are solely responsible for the application or any content that you create, transmit or display while using the service and for the consequences of your actions, including any loss or damage which Google may suffer, by doing so.
You agree that Google has no responsibility or liability for the deletion or failure to store any content and other communications maintained or transmitted through use of the service.
Personal Data Capture Machine: How Google Usurps Private Consumer Information
If the users provide you with user names, passwords, or other login information or personal information, you must make the users aware that the information will be available to Google.
Google App Engine fits perfectly into the Mountain View manifest-destiny, for big-profit mission, to obtain, control, manipulate, archive, harvest, and monetize for its own account, all the world’s private information direct from big, bad Google server farms all over the world.
Europe appears to be finally waking up to the risks European residents face from Google’s mercantile aggression. Will the United States ever wise up, against Google?
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DONNA BOGATIN is the Founder & CEO of STARTUP ALPHA
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