Google employs doublespeak to defend Net neutrality stance

Company presents facts as 'myths' and opinions as 'facts'

Google has offered its critics yet another opportunity to compare the search giant to Big Brother. In a blog post defending its controversial proposal for an open Internet, the company presents, in a doublespeak-like manner, "facts" seemingly intended to refute "myths." Even a cursory read, however, reveals that some of the purported "myths" are quite factual -- and Google counters with supposed "facts" that could more accurately be labeled as "attempts to defend our decision to compromise with Verizon and exclude wireless broadband from our proposal."

In doing so, Google has managed to turn what could be a reasonable defense of its proposal into a laughable document in which the company tries to spin, distort, and generally confuse people into thinking that its previously tough stance on Net neutrality hasn't changed a bit, all the while explaining how it's changed and why.

[ Also on InfoWorld.com: When it comes to wireless, if Google wins, you lose. | Keep up on key mobile developments and insights with the Mobile Edge blog and Mobilize newsletter. ]

"We're not selling out, we're compromising." Google starts as follows: "Myth: Google has "sold out" on [Internet] neutrality." In response to this myth, Google presents as "fact" that, well, it sort of did sell out to Verizon by hammering out what Google admits is an imperfect solution. But Google assures us it sold out -- er, compromised, for a noble cause: protecting consumers who are currently suffering no protection whatsoever in terms of Net neutrality from the the feds. "With that in mind, we decided to partner with a major broadband provider on the best policy solution we could devise together. We're not saying this solution is perfect, but we believe that a proposal that locks in key enforceable protections for consumers is preferable to no protection at all."