> Lloyd made his pitch, proposing a quantum version of Google’s search engine whereby users could make queries and receive results without Google knowing which questions were asked. The men were intrigued. But after conferring with their business manager the next day, Brin and Page informed Lloyd that his scheme went against their business plan. “They want to know everything about everybody who uses their products and services,” he joked.

I'm confident that wasn't just a joke. That's what Larry Page thinks is Google's direction, and I think he's wrong. I was just telling a Googler friend that this is the wrong way, and in the future they will face increasing criticism for it, especially if the Internet's users en masse decide to switch to a much more secure, much more private Internet, where user tracking would be very difficult.

When that day comes, Google won't be a friend anymore for web users. They'll be the enemy. And I'm saying that as a still somewhat loyal Google user right now.

The problem is Google has always "won" by being a friend to web users. If they are the enemy, they will lose. That's why it's vital for them to find a way to make money, that doesn't automatically make them the enemy of a much more secure Internet.