Filed under: Rumors | Tablets

 

Why Is Facebook Afraid of Google?

You'd expect that title to be the other way around.

May 12 2011, 12:06pm CDT | by

Why Is Facebook Afraid of Google?
 
 
 

Facebook is scared of Google. That's the conclusion I- and plenty of other tech writers- have drawn from this latest scandal. The world's largest search network was caught trying to smear the world's largest search engine with bogus stories about privacy intrusions. Facebook hired a PR firm, Burson-Marsteller, to carry out the mud-slinging.

Most of the attacks were carried out through the media. Burston-Marsteller reps reached out to at least one blogger and attempted to push him into writing an anti-Google story. The focus was to be on Social Circle. Facebook wanted push the idea that Google's service was scraping private data and violating Google's agreement with the FTC. In reality, those claims had no veracity and Facebook's hired guns were unable to push their story.

But now we have hard evidence that the social network is resorting to underhanded- and seemingly desperate- tactics to break Google's back. These are not the sort of defensive actions you'd expect for a company in as powerful a position as Facebook. What do they have to fear from Google that justifies such a panicked, clumsy blow?

It's possible that this is simply Facebook ramping up their game in order to compete with Google's renewed assault on their interests. Larry Page, the new CEO, has tied up to 25% of Googler bonuses to the company's success in social media. The smear campaign could merely be Facebook's way of trying to slow Google down.

Facebook tends to receive an (understandably) poor rating in terms of their respect for user privacy. Google has a better reputation, although not a flawless one. Burston-Marsteller's plan seems to have been a long-term one, bent on reducing consumer confidence in Google. They saw the cost of last year's Buzz debacle and decided to try and recreate that with Social Circle.

Is this the End? For Burston-Marsteller, it is. They bungled this 'secret' operation as badly as it could be bungled. No one believed them, and now their employer's dirty laundry has been aired to the whole Internet. I'd suspect Facebook will terminate their contract in the near future. But that doesn't mean they're done lashing out at Google. The question isn't 'will they', but 'when will they' and how.

Sponsored Update

Updates

Thousands take up free WIFI on offer in Rotorua CBD

Source: Scoop - New Zealand News

News Release Wednesday 22 May 2013 Thousands take up free WIFI on offer in Rotorua CBD ROTORUA 22.05.13: Rotorua District Council (RDC)’s newly implemented programme of free WiFi within the CBD is proving a big hi ...
Full article at: Scoop - New Zealand News  More like this  44 minutes ago

Sea eScape: Rain and more rain

Source: Sail Blogs

We followed Option One out the pass today, just in case they needed a tow. Their engine was overheating and sadly they have decided to sail back to Savusavu to have it looked at, so it was farewell until we next meet, perhaps in Musket ...
Full article at: Sail Blogs  More like this  50 minutes ago

Canon beats Nikon in accidental damage tests

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Canon and Nikon cameras have inspired huge loyalty from their respective users.NEW YORK, May 22 — Just as an argument has raged for the best part of 30 years between Windows and Mac users as to which operating system is the best, a similar ...
Full article at: The Malaysian Insider  More like this  50 minutes ago

Watch all 2013 Superbowl ads

where to buy

Don't miss ...

 

<a href="/latest_stories/all/all/5" rel="author">Robert Evans</a>
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.

 

 

blog comments powered by Disqus

Latest stories

Xbox One preorder notification gets you a $10 Microsoft credit
Xbox One preorder notification gets you a $10 Microsoft credit
Free $10 credit at the Microsoft Store (online only) when you sign up for preorder notification
 
 
Wii U console drops $60
Wii U console drops $60
new Xbox announced, Wii U drops $60 at Target
 
 
 
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Leaked Video
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Leaked Video
The video of rugged Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is leaked online. It shows that Galaxy S4 Active includes a dual core Snapdragon processor with 8 megapixel rare camera.
 
 
 

More From the Web

Viral Stories

 
 

Viral Videos and Photos