GOOGLE: BEHIND THE SCREEN IJSBRAND VAN VEELEN VPRO 2006
GOOGLE: BEHIND THE SCREEN IJSBRAND VAN VEELEN VPRO 2006 , This 50 minutes documentary gives an in depth look in the world of Google and search What if all the worlds information would be available and easy to find? What if all the news all books all texts photographs and videos would be collected in one place and made available always and everywhere? This is the goal of Google and the company seems to be realising its core mission at an amazing speed: through its popular search engine through Google Earth with which users can find any kind of information based on geography and through Google Print a project in which Google digitizes complete libraries Google is divulging ever more information in the process hiring the smartest people in the industry But is the company aware of the responsibility it has being the guard to all the worlds information including personal information about its users? This documentary takes a look into the world of Google in the companys headquarters in Mountain View California and in its London offices We see among others Vint Cerf named the father of the Internet who explains the inner workings of Google as a company Since 2004 Cerf has been working for Google helping them to develop new applications for the Internet What is his view on the development of the Internet and on the role Google plays in todays world? With its motto Dont be evil Google seems to have the best intentions But there are also claims that Google is slowly turning into Big Brother keeping track of its users and continuously making decisions about the information it provides to an ever faster growing number of users Will Google turn out to be a new Library of Alexandria serving as a middleman that brings all useful information to anyone? Or is it turning into a monopolistic Big Brother that challenges the freedom of information? Research: Martijn Kieft Director: IJsbrand van Veelen VPRO Backlight 2006