Does Google Control The Internet?

"Google is the 800 pound gorilla and is pretty much going to get what it wants until there are legitimate competitors. Being the biggest and baddest has its advantages and allows Google to set its own parameters." - Referring to the current trend in paid link advertising this is a quote from the comments section in Andy Beard's blog post about the FTC and Google.

Scenario:

• Google's share of Internet searches goes from 55% to 90% thus controlling vast amounts of information and how it is viewed.
• Company A does something that Google doesn't like or refuses to pay to be listed in some new directory.
• Company A gets shunned from Google and access to their company information is virtually non-existent on the Internet.

Do you think that it's possible for a company like Google get too big and control too much of the information flow. How would that impact the economy? Some say that this is already happening and are advocating the use of alternate search engines.

Google appears to be on the forefront of Net Neutrality support. However other Net Neutrality proponents are claiming that most proposed legislation for true net neutrality focus around telcos and ISPs and would allow for loopholes with which a search engine could exploit it's position on the web. Someone once told me, "Try googling Google and see what comes up." There isn't a lot of negative karma out there for the big G, even if you go hundreds of pages deep. Is this because Google is that awesome and everyone likes it? Or is it because they control the information?

It's no secret that Google engages in acts of censorship, such as wiping Vice President Dick Cheney’s residence from satellite maps, and bowing to political pressure to eliminate content from sites in different countries. Neutrality?

Claims have been made for years that the media controls information, letting you see only what they want you to. Now, as Google continues to take over market share, will the available information on the net be what Google wants you to see?

Don't get me wrong, I am not an anti-Google person. I've just been reading a lot about this. I am curious as to what you think.

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