Posted by
ML Smith on Saturday, May 30, 2009 10:18:18 PM
A ¨ S ‚ C Aben Zie Ein en Krankenvagon?
Two episodes last week opened my eyes. First, my e-mail address with Google's Gmail was hijacked. Evidently someone found a way to use my GMail address as a Spam carrier. Will this affect my credibility as a writer? Hard to tell - I don't know if Gmail attaches its bright red Spam and Beware warning to my submissions. Of greater significance, Google aids and abets this Internet thief. Despite the knowledge that this fraudulent spammer has hijacked my address, GMail willingly delivers the mail. Does this make Google an accessory to fraud? I think so. Google refuses to respond to my complaints and continues to allow "me to me" mail. I won't even mention the sordid details of the subject headers I receive. GMail abuse is acceptable to Google, as long as the revenues justify the fraud. Will the new Cyber Czar make a difference? I sure hope so. My report of the fraudulent activity to the FTC went nowhere. The report is transmitted by non-encrypted e-mail that includes voluminous personal data. Nix on that, right?
Episode two was far more upsetting. Google censored an article I attempted to send to the Washington Post. Well...we all have our opinions about the Obama administration, but what I see is the erosion of democracy and free speech. "To hell with the Constitution," is the message I get and Google, the Internet giant, is permitted to abrogate our rights in pursuit of a better bottom line. Yes, it is a fact that Google's Terms and Policies clearly say they can do whatever they wish...even cancel my account on a whim if they feel so inclined. Does that mean they can tell the FTC, FBI, USDOJ and a host of other regulatory agencies to get lost? Perhaps so. Google is the Third Reich of the Internet.. Don't be surprised if you arm gets sore...“Heil Google!"
If they can shut down freedom of the press and support e-mail fraud, how powerful are they? I suppose I'll find out shortly when my GMail account is exterminated. I think it's called "Dissenter Cleansing," and we can only hope it stops at the sign in box to your e-mail page.
I was raised to believe in the Constitution, Bill of Rights and most importantly, the underpinning of democracy - free speech.
Wake up, America! Your rights are disappearing here while we fight for them on foreign soil. The signs all point in the same direction - federalized industrial dictatorship.