DOJ’s proposed Google changes would ‘deeply undermine user trust,’ search chief says
1 min read
Summary
Google vice president of search, Elizabeth Reid, has argued that the US Department of Justice’s proposals to increase competition, including forcing the company to syndicate its search data with competitors, would put online queries at risk of hacking.
She also claimed that it would undermine trust in Google’s search functions as users may fear that their data will be shared without their knowledge.
Furthermore, the proposals would hinder Google’s battle against spam and misinformation, as it would make it easier for competitors to “reverse engineer” its systems, claimed Reid.
Google is currently battling the DOJ’s proposals, which also include selling its Chrome browser, and is lobbying for more limited changes to its search distribution contracts.