Google ad chief stepping down weeks after antitrust trial testimony

Coming from a header bidding network, I can say with certainty that Google’s display ad business was in effect a criminal enterprise. DFP fees, preferential treatment for their ad supply, data hoarding, fees at every level, shoddy quality enforcement and dubious billing practices all had an ugly effect on publishers, the web and anyone who dared compete with them. I hope there is plenty more accountability and reform, even as I work as far away from that space as possible.

My opinion of google has been plummeting hard over the years. I distinctly remember that company growing into this idealistic company and thinking that this way of thinking would never die. Just do the right thing and money will follow…

Now I’m all grown up and I abhor this company. I could probably get a job with them since I’m all leet coded up to hard but don’t give a shit anymore. Literally. The only perk they have that stands out is the onsite daycare. But the truth is, you couldn’t pay me to pretend to care about that company anymore.

All of my main emails are on non-google domains. I use Kagi search exclusively. Their AI models are laughable, even if they were able to impress me I wouldn’t give up a shred of control or privacy to partake.

I’m not totally off the grid mind you. I will fight to make sure Amazon’s fraud detection systems don’t blacklist me (and by fight I mean submit my drivers license meekishly) or let Dropbox have access to and transfer, unencrypted all of my tax returns each year when that time comes. But god damn, some companies have absolutely ruined themselves beyond redemption. I won’t even buy a VR headset for fear that it might require a Facebook account (I’ve been banned from Facebook for no reason AND assured by another poster that Facebook accounts are no longer required for VR) let alone allow any google domain to resolve itself on my home network.

I don’t know what the fuck happened but I can say this. The company I once thought was permanently beyond reproach and whose ethos was so lofty it could never be challenged is down there now…with the yahoos and askjeeves and IBMs and Microsoft’s of the world…whose sole existence is to grab another wad of cash and give nothing back to the world. I know Google does some good, but it’s not nearly enough considering their size and the world would in fact be better if they ceased to exist. Same with facebook and Microsoft.

I'm still for Apple and Amazon sometimes but I’m sure there will come a day when they turn to shit. They call it enshitification…I don’t like that term but it fits here and there’s nothing better for now.

Oh and someone at Google resigned? Cool. Call me when they donate all their money to charity and cease to exist. There’s not much they can do to redeem themselves at this point. Everything they touch turns to shit. Even 23andme is incapable of operating without going full blown evil. Just fucking admit you suck at not getting hacked and take the hit from a lawsuit you shitty derivation of Google. My god, is it so hard to just be honest?

If dishonesty doesn’t kill you quickly, your reputations will. All that money and still, the most talented among us don’t care to be associated with your name.

I mean, if you were already planning on leaving a position, it sure would be convenient if you could take the heat to testify to inconvenient things before doing so.

Cue 'We've brought in new leadership to ensure that going forward we're a paragon of transparency and ethical behavior.'

Should buy another couple decades.

His testimony performance didn’t get him good reviews!

Must have been fun while it lasted.

Well, two weeks ago.