I have to admit, the motto "Don't Be Evil" is one of the strangest I've ever heard strictly for the fact that it actually doesn't say anything. If one reads the Google Code of Conduct, there isn't much surprise there. However, the actual motto itself is odd.
What exactly does "Don't Be Evil" mean (Google's explanation aside)? It certainly doesn't mean "Be Good". It doesn't mean "Don't be really bad". What exactly would qualify as an "evil" act? Aren't the ideas of good and evil ultimately subjective? One man's good is another's evil. A tax hike for some is good because it pays for social programs. It's evil to others because it causes them to lose their hard-earned dollars. Evil is a shifty term, one that will mean different things to different people, thus leaving a motto that doesn't actually say anything.
Is the invasion of privacy evil? If so, are cookies evil? Or are they a benefit that allows easier access to the web?
Is an attempt to control ideology and create hegemony evil? If so, is the specific manipulation of search results to promote certain ideas evil? Or is it a way to show more popular results over more obscure sites so you don't waste your time sifting through trash?
Are monopolies evil? If so, is the total control of a marketplace evil? Or is it just a result of Google consistently innovating and producing better products?
These are questions that will receive different answers from just about everyone you ask. So, how do we expect every Google employee to understand the meaning of a term that is so shift to us? Is it possible that the company keeps its employees so well informed and educated that there is not the gray area here? I would be surprised if that is the case.
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I agree, evil--while it should be obvious--can be a subjectively defined word. To be a humongous nerd, I will cite Season 3 of Heroes (which, to be fair and academic, is meant to be a commentary on how the US treats terror suspects). In that season, the "Hero" becomes a "Villain" by claiming that he is working for the greater good by imprisoning citizens because of their potential threat to society. Is imprisoning people without a cause or trial evil? Absolutely. But ask people if they want dangerous people locked up, and all of a sudden evil becomes subjective.
ReplyDeleteDon't Be Evil certainly warrants definition, especially now that, with the help of Google, the government could really gather unprecedented information about us, track our movements, and potentially, gather "evidence" against us. Evil enough?