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Lauren Weinstein

***** What most depresses me about the situation *****

In 's early days, I was widely known as one of their strongest critics. I objected to various of their early practices related to privacy and data retention and other issues. Media would call me for quotes for negative stories about Google.

This began to change after my first direct contact with Google, when many years ago I was invited to give a talk at Google's (then very new) Los Angeles offices. I believe mine was the first talk they recorded, and there wasn't even a podium yet. I sat on the edge of a table.

And after my talk, which was fairly critical but laden with what I hoped were useful suggestions, I hung around for some hours chatting with Googlers and learning that many of them thought my views were on target.

Over the years, Google changed enormously in positive ways. The nightmarish "move fast and break things" sensibilities of the era faded significantly into the background, and Google became a world class example of best practices in many areas including privacy, security, and an array of others.

Also over time, I came into contact with and met many more Googlers (Google employees) and during two intervals worked inside the firm myself, working with them directly.

I (almost) never met a Googler I didn't like, and my view of internal processes greatly increased my confidence that they'd do the right thing. When Google Haters would spout nonsense, I'd refute it.

So now as I've had to be so critical of Google's recent desperate moves toward the dark side, it's depressing to find so many Googlers I know agreeing with me.

Sometimes you really want to be wrong. But I fear that when it comes to what's happening at Google now, and how it could negatively impact the rest of the Internet, I could turn out to be correct.

And what that could mean for the Net going forward is beyond depressing to contemplate. -L