Is Google too big?
| 18:35 UK time, Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Google, the world's most popular search engine, is itself being looked into this week as investigations are launched to find out whether its collection of private Wi-Fi data across the world is illegal. Germany opened an investigation last week, alongside a letter from privacy commissioners across the world sent to Google, questioning privacy issues.
The letter , written by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and signed nine countries, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the UK want assurances over Google's use of any data they have collected from citizens.
Google currently holds 64.4% of the US search engine market, and bundle in many other tools into their search capabilities including shopping, blogs and maps. However, some people think Google has become too big .
Stephen Conroy, Australia's communications minister has said that Google's privacy policy is creepy , but many Australians have criticised his own proposal for a nation-wide internet filter
Are Google stopping any chance of fair competition and invading privacy, or just providing a comprehensive service in a world where competitors are just a click away?
