Regulation Cannot Come Soon Enough

There’s an interesting article in today’s New York Times by Steve Lohr called Google Extends Outside Research Financing to New Fields. It seems that privacy is one of four new areas being funded by $5.7 million in Google philanthropy to 12 university research projects.

I’d say Lohr got it spot-on when he wrote:

Three of the four research groups are in fields where Google could be said to be playing offense: Improvements in machine learning, cellphone data collection and energy efficiency would all help boost the company’s profits.

The fourth area — privacy — has more the look of defense: It is presumably in Google’s interest to promote the development of privacy-handling tools that forestall federal regulations. Four of the 12 research projects are in the field of privacy.

Lohr provides one example of privacy research being funded. The topic … “Will people pay a bit more to purchase goods from Web sites that have tighter practices for handling personal data?”

Groan!!

I’m sorry, Google. Privacy is not something that needs financial justification. It is a right.

Do you not understand that? Or is the lure of additional advertising revenue sufficiently strong that you divert your eyes?