Why I trust Google as much as I do.

In another attempt to appear more hip than I actually am, I started using Google Voice to text message my friends, as this appears to be what you use a cell phone, in lieu of talking, if one is actually hip. While discussing my new set up with Brooke, she mentioned that although the system seems kind of cool, she doesn't know how she felt about Google knowing even more information about her (if you're not aware, Google Voice will record voice messages and send transcriptions to you via e-mail, I assume Google uses these transcriptions for something, you also must give your contact's information to Google for the system to work effectively).

While I can certainly understand the feelings, I don't share it, I have no problem with Google knowing, and profiting from, all types of information about me. However the conversation did spark an interest in why I feel this way about Google. It didn't take me much thought before I realized that it all came to one simple fact, protecting my personal information is in the best interest of Google.

If one of my credit card companies loses my information (along with the information of millions of other customers) they look foolish, type up a press release and call it a day. On the other hand, if Google loses my information, they have lost their only asset, a large volume of personal information that they had exclusively. So while losing my information might cost other companies customers in the long run, it would cost Google their competitive advantage.