Do you think big internet search engines are like "PUBLIC UTILITIES" i.e. have a responsibility to not censor?

January 2, 2009 on 12:48 pm | By advertising | In search engine |

There's legal precedent insofar as "PUBLIC TRUST" with utilities, they cannot profiteer in excess or abuse the public's trust. And the public trust they will be getting uncensored information when they do a search. Particularly when it comes to politics, they expect an unbiased return.

If a company which has been meeting the public's needs, suddenly decides it may abuse the trust the public has built up in the "utility" because it is a "private" company, doesn't that fall under the same category as other public utilities, and thus the same LIABILITY? Couldn't the public file a class action suit against these search engine companies for abusing the public trust as a public utility?

I believe they are as much a utility as water, sewer, phone, etc.

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2 Comments

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  1. i don't see it your way. i think the search engines should not censor and that it would be to their detriment it they did but that it would be their right to do so.

    but yes you could file a class action suit if you can find an attorney who wants to take it on.

    Comment by rexx0046 — January 2, 2009 #

  2. I second rex.Search engines need not censor anything.Search engines cannot be unnecessarily burdened with "sorting out" sites.

    Let it all be there.Everyone can take what they want out of it.Also, its always mutual.If the search engines or any other organization, for that matter, breach the trust they have inspired, the loss is as much theirs as ours.

    Search engines are more like libraries- store house of all information and knowledge.

    Comment by steven c — January 2, 2009 #

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