Shoshanna Zuboff: Dark Google

Recall those fabled frogs happy in the magic pond. Playful. Distracted. The water temperature slowly rises, but the frogs don’t notice. By the time it reaches the boiling point, it’s too late to leap to safety.  We are as frogs in the digital waters, and Springer CEO Mathias Dopfner has just become our frog town crier.  Mr. Dopfner’s „Why We Fear Google“ ( a response to Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt’s open letter, „A Chance for Growth“) warns of danger on the move: „The temperatures are rising fast.”  If his cry of alarm scares you, that’s good. Why?