Who is not grateful to programmers for integrating a little search box in the menu bar of their browser? The one that saves a little bit of time and performs Google searches without having to open a new browser window. “Nifty” as they say in written Geek. Nifty yes, but innocuous? Not really, as Google records your Internet IP address, the time and date, your search terms, and your browser configuration through the use of a cookie that will expire in 2038. All information that Google will be happy to provide to governmental agencies, national or foreign.

In 2005, Google CEO Eric Schmidt was quoted saying,“We are moving to a Google that knows more about you.” (February 10, 2005, The New York Times). Now Google has just make one step further with Google Health, that “puts you in charge of your health information [is] safe, secure, and free”.

Another piece of nifty programming which allows patients to import their medical records and share them with other doctors online; and Google, lest we forget. Of course, if you trust Google to take care of your personal data as long and as well as Google takes care of your emails (that you never need to delete any more!) and other personal data, there is no cause for concerns.

What’s more a source of concerns is that the Internet, still a big black box, is again taking over qualified professionals. Yesterday it was Wikipedia taking over education, today it is Google Health taking over your GP, tomorrow… let’s not think about tomorrow, there is no need, Google will do the thinking for us.

(Illustration from Google Watch)

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