A discussion I had on Friday with a colleague from Mpowered Business Solutions reminded me how important it is to regulate yourself. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Lets look at it from the South African perspective, we have a great constitution and the first founding provision states "...South Africa...founded on the following values: ...Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms".
The internet is founded on the same principles. Information is the most valuable resource available to human society. IT is so valuable that the founders of the internet have always fought to maintain an open sharing policy, to not commoditise information. This information educates, empowers and promotes understanding between cultures, religions and nations: it helps alleviate the single biggest problem on the planet, intolerance and ignorance. Google takes their responsibility seriously when it comes to sharing and neutrality.
Some people predict that Microsoft's $44.6 billion hostile bid for Yahoo will be forgotten, diluted and scoffed at in two years. When considering historical moments like this I ask myself what the checks and balances are.
South Africa has the anti-corruption unit called the Scorpions. This was put in place by the government to ensure they they themselves did not fall victim to themselves. We are all human and fallible, you know it and I know it. Google also sticks to their philosophy and they're completely different to traditional businesses. They realise that they have a responsibility (Point # 8) to each and every human being needing access to information; Information that may change the world.
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