Several people have e-mailed me this story from today’s New York Times: Google’s Chief Is Googled, to the Company’s Displeasure:
CNETNews.com, a technology news Web site, said last week that Google had told it that the company would not answer any questions from CNET’s reporters until July 2006. The move came after CNET published an article last month that discussed how the Google search engine can uncover personal information and that raised questions about what information Google collects about its users.
The article, by Elinor Mills, a CNET staff writer, gave several examples of information about Google’s chief executive, Eric E. Schmidt, that could be gleaned from the search engine. These included that his shares in the company were worth $1.5 billion, that he lived in Atherton, Calif., that he was the host of a $10,000-a-plate fund-raiser for Al Gore’s presidential campaign and that he was a pilot.
After the article appeared, David Krane, Google’s director of public relations, called CNET editors to complain, said Jai Singh, the editor in chief of CNETNews.com. “They were unhappy about the fact we used Schmidt’s private information in our story,” Mr. Singh said. “Our view is what we published was all public information, and we actually used their own product to find it.”
He said Mr. Krane called back to say that Google would not speak to any reporter from CNET for a year.
In an instant-message interview, Mr. Krane said, “You can put us down for a ‘no comment.’ “
I actually heard about this last week, based only on an offhand comment near the end of another CNET News story, and I found it hard to believe. But apparently it’s true.
This is a monumentally stupid move. I asked my wife, a PR professional with lots of experience, what she thought, and she said, “Who is their agency? They should be fired.” She also pointed out that cutting off all of CNET for a year is just dumb. The story you didn’t want is already out there. Deal with it. Cutting off CNET gives you one less channel to tell the story you want the public to hear. And in this case, at least, it also provides a shiny new story that’s making you look stupid and is getting far more play than the original one.
If the PR folks at Google were really smart, they wouldn’t have actually told the folks at CNET that they were cutting them off. If they were intent on “punishing” the reporter, they just make sure to return every other call from every other publication before they get to hers. Of course, true professionals don’t play petty games like that; they stay focused on the business and they work extra hard to win over the people who write negative stories.
Google’s motto, reportedly is: “Don’t be evil.” Maybe they need to add “Don’t be stupid, either.”
Ed Bott 
Sounds like Google is onto a really good PR plan.
Don’t tell CNet what you’re doing that is positive for a year because of one minor embarassment. A really good rule of thumb is, “If you procrastinate or avoid making a decision, time will make it for you and not likely in your favor.”
Basically the Google decision over time, tips the news reported into favoring negative reports on their company. Their decision not to talk to CNet means that they don’t reply or rebut these articles and over time, gives them a negative image even if they don’t deserve it.
Really smart. Kind of like Vera Katz in Portland announcing it is ok for the police to go through your garbage and then whining loudly and threateningly when the local newspaper does so and reports what they found. Heh!
I am so glad that this story was done. Now lets see someone write the complete “Google” SPYWARE story.
For many years now I have gone out of my way to find new software that could offer internet users either help or ease in doing something. I love to beta test.
I new to be careful with any so-called free program that Google offered, because I knew that they did collect or could collect Info on anyone that uses their search engine. It is very simple to prove. Fire up Google.com, find and click “Preferences, you will see that the default is moderate filtering , change it to anything else. Now get off line, do a complete clean up [cookies/Temp/Internet Temp files index.dat files]
Now go back to Google.com and check Global Preferences. OH, What happened to your change. Poof!
OK need more easy proof. If you do not have Mozilla Download version 1.7 or higher. Shame on you if you have to download it, But thats a different story.
Go to Google.com with Mozilla, look at the top left, click edit, privacy, cookies, cookie manager and “LOOK” at the Cookie set by Google. First any site that gives this reply [ no policy about storing identifiable information] Collect All They can Get!!!
Google cookie:
NAME: PREF
Content: ID=48518f0b6a1a3987:TM=1124116112:LM=1124116112:S=sdgQ7k977wqa7_bU
[ Get the pic, this is a heck of a cookie string ID NUMBER.]
Domain: .google.com
Path: /
Send For: Any type of connection
Expires: at end of session [
ONLY because I set it to.]
Policy: no policy about storing identifiable information
[ Any Site that Does Not set Info Collecting Cookies will “SAY SO”
Like .icc.intellisrv.net
Policy: does not store identifiable information]
I thought it was running but not. To make a long story short after install of Picasa and uninstall 2 min
s later, because Picasa scanned my complete Tree and then tried to connect to the Internet in the back ground. For those of you that dont use a good bi-directional firewall, either do not bother reading anything about Spyware or Get one.s story is just the beginning. Google Like Microsoft, AOL, Netscape and most other Big COThere is never a reason for any program to connect to the internet unless you tell it to.
OK, Now if you read legalezz download "EVERY" T.O.S. for EVERY service/ free program and Read them.
Google does tell the Truth. They say that they collect, as well as third parties info, they Sell Info, They give INFO Away.
Now Go Check International LAW About how long E-Mail is to be considered "SECURE" and you will see why GOOGLE says "YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO DELETE E-MAIL AGAIN WITH G-Mail.
As I said CNET
s COLLECT ANYTHING THEY CAN GET.s from Sending Info out the the back door.I hope someone with brains and time can and will Tell the Complete Story on Securty. I have no problem getting rid of data miners and other spyware. My and my customers Big Problem is Stopping the M$ OS
Does ATI really need to know when someone changes their desktop settings?
Have fun
Bill MacGregor K.I.S.S. SECURTY LLC.