Why does Google Distribute Libel?

Question

"At a time when Google proposes to amass ever more sensitive and personal information on Internet users worldwide, Google's lack of responsibility in actively distributing unsupported libel has given many, real cause for concern. It is the unique status of libel law in America that allows Google immunity from prosecution from anything they publish on www.google.com. And yes, that includes anything they'd like to publish about you" claims Brian Retkin Director dotWORLDS.

Answer 1

What exactly is Google publishing on "www.google.com"? All I see there is a single input form object and a few links to additional Google services. Maybe you mean the Google News site. Wait, they are only providing a mashup of information from other news sources and provide direct links to those sites. So where exactly is Google publishing this information? They really seem more like a central location to find information that is already available online from other sites (i.e. a search engine), much like Yahoo, MSN, AltaVista, and others.

Answer 2

It's there on www.google,com if you want to see it (as well as the news section).

and we should also note that ........In stark contrast to what many see as a total disregard for the reputation of its users........Google vehemently protects their own privacy. According to a September 4, 2005 story in the Sunday Times Online by Dominic Rushe, a recent public relations fiasco occurred after Google banned their staff from talking to CNet reporters for one year. It transpired that the ban was Google's response to CNet's publication of personal information about Dr. Eric Schmidt, Google's CEO. It was then learned that not only was the information already in the public domain, but the same information about Schmidt was also available on Google's own websites.

Google's reaction to CNet was inconsistent with its handling of a man who had been falsely accused as a pedophile by his wife during divorce hearings. His name and photograph were posted on a police website but were removed after the charges were dropped. However, having picked up the story, Google did not remove the pictures or postings it had published on its search engine. According to Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum (WPF), the page remained accessible through Google and was only removed after a long struggle.

Of course Google survived the naming of their CEO by CNET. Still, whatever happened to the falsely accused man. Does anybody know. It is the weakest that are most vulnerable in this arena and they are also the least able to defend themselves.

How would you respond to waking up to find that your life, your family, your career had been ruined by someone who had knowingly libelled you - lied about you for their own purposes - and who was able, via Googles systems, to hide themelves under a cloak of anonymity.

Who will be the next victim?