Murdoch could block Google searches entirely

When I read the title to this article I had the same reaction as I’m sure your having now: what?  Billionaire Rupert Murdoch says he will remove stories from Googles search index, in an attempt to get people to pay for content online.  My opinion? The words crazy and absurd come to mind.

The mogul said, in an interview with Sky News Australia, that newspapers in his media empire – including the Sun, the Times and the Wall Street Journal – would consider blocking Google entirely, after enacting plans to charge people for reading their stories via their websites.  This is ridiculous. In the day and age that we live, with the internet at many of our fingertips every second of the day and the endless amount of sources out there, it’s an impossible task.  Not to mention one that most definitely will result in a mass boycott of some sort.  Web users will not stand for this and for Mr Murdoch to think otherwise is crazy.  Trying to step in and change the dynamic by which people obtain their news and information and slapping a price tag to read news online? Please.  They, like myself, will find another of the 100000000 FREE sites that provide the same quality information as those owned by the mogul.  The days of charging for “news” and information on the web are long over.

- Bilal Asgher

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~ by drbilal on November 10, 2009.