[Etheryte]

I don't think either one of those points are true. The result of unregulated Google is most definitely not a positive online experience, it's rampant tracking and hoarding of information, both of which have had very real negative real world consequences. Similarly, the world does not "run on Google", what does that even mean? Gmail is but one email provider out of many. Google search is the largest player in the space, but their technological edge is slimming by the day.

[donatj]

> it's rampant tracking and hoarding of information, both of which have had very real negative real world consequences

Namely? I can’t imagine any real world consequences that aren’t positives? I am better served for my preferences?

[Etheryte]

Civilians have been bombed in Ukraine based on gathered and clustered geodata. Stalkers have bought their victims' data online and gone to their houses. Foreign intelligence agencies have blackmailed government officials based on their online activities. You can find an absurd number of examples for all of these and more.

[tremon]

There's very little need to imagine anything. Does e.g. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36300410 sound like a positive consequence to you?

[donatj]

The government is already listening to all your phone calls and reading all your text messages. There's likely very little in there they don't already have.

[tremon]

You didn't answer the question. Does the government (any government, for that matter) having access to all that information sound like a positive consequence to you?