Search Engine Scrutiny

Information Today, Vol. 23, No. 3, p. 19, March 2006

3 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2010

Date Written: March 2006

Abstract

A simple look at the statistics will show how ubiquitous Internet search engines have become. Google and Yahoo, the two most prominent Internet access companies, have a combined market value of over $177 billion. (Found using Yahoo). It is estimated that a Google search runs through an index of as many as 11 billion web pages. (Found using Google.) Googling, a verb for using a search engine - usually Google - to find out information about a specific person, is now a common phrase in popular culture. (Although according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “google” is cricket term meaning to make the cricket ball break and swerve. It’s nice to know some things remain traditional. Also found using Google.)

It’s no surprise then that as search engines emerge as the primary gatekeeper to an increasing amount of the world’s information has raised problems and concerns. Issues such as information privacy, skewing of results, free speech and civil rights concerns, and copyright are all getting increasing attention by Internet industry watchers. A recent conference at Yale Law School took a close look at privacy, skewed search results and other issues, and raised the question of whether Internet search engines should be regulated.

Keywords: information privacy laws, search engine privacy, marketing, Internet Service Providers, Internet content providers, privacy protection, security, lawsuits, technology, free speech

Suggested Citation

Pike, George H., Search Engine Scrutiny (March 2006). Information Today, Vol. 23, No. 3, p. 19, March 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1657076

George H. Pike (Contact Author)

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law ( email )

375 E. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
United States
312-503-0295 (Phone)
312-503-9230 (Fax)

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