Google isn't just a search engine; it's a data-sucking machine. Each search, each YouTube video, email, usage of Google Maps, or words to Google Assistant, all these are feeding an empire with personal information. In fact, even in "Incognito Mode," Google was found tracking user activity. In 2024, the company settled a privacy lawsuit for $5 billion, admitting it collected data while users thought they were private. And it crossed the next shocking level, that, your silence is data.
You may think turning off your location settings keeps you safe. Think again. Google has been accused multiple times of continuing to collect users' location data even after settings were turned off. In 2020, Arizona filed a lawsuit exposing internal Google emails showing employees confused about how location settings actually worked. "We’re making it harder for users to remain anonymous," one email revealed. You turned off tracking; Google turned on deception.
With over 90% control of the global search engine market, Google shapes what you see, what you think, and often, what you buy. It’s not just a search engine; it’s the gatekeeper of the world’s information. Through secretive algorithms, it can boost or bury websites, businesses, or news—manipulating reality for profit. Think you're choosing what to read? Maybe not. The master of the web is already a step ahead.
While everyday people pay taxes, Google used complex structures like the "Double Irish" tax loopholes to avoid paying billions globally. These maneuvers shifted profits to tax havens, legally dodging responsibilities while benefiting from public infrastructure. The world builds the roads; Google drives on them toll-free.
Author's Note
If something is free, your data is the price. Google is not just a service provider; it is a surveillance empire disguised in convenience. Think before you search.