That's apparently the title of forthcoming book by Siva Vaidhyanathan, and also of a recent talk. Here are some notes by Michael at Masters of Media:
Siva’s starting point is that Google is part of our lives, and we talk about in a way that resembles the way we would talk about the Divine. Ultimately, we say, “It is a force for good.” As per the Book of Sergey and Larry, “Don’t be evil”. And in Siva’s words, the path to heaven seems lined by small, personalized advertisements. In the world of Google, moral problems are merely unsolved technological ones. But Google - the search engine - is a black box, and perhaps this is why we mere mortals must become believers.
Google has divine aims, too. Universal access to all of the world’s information? Sergey says, “It would be like the Mind of God”. (Read on and discuss below..)
New Network TheorySiva goes on to discuss the theology of the network via the theology of Google. His interests are broad, from the way the world looks through Google’s eyes, to the political and legal implications of the various precedents Google is (or will be) setting. The issues are multifarious - from the purchase of Double Click to the Viacom-Youtube lawsuit - and the of much speculation throughout the business, legal and politcal spheres.
All the while, Siva says, Google must keep its image - its halo - and so far it has.. Google demands loyalty. In return it offers the illusion of democracy, precision and objectivity.
Link: SIVACRACY.NET: Nieuw Network Theory in Amsterdam,
via Infothought.
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