Pluralistic: Google is a scammer's paradise (05 Aug 2026)

Cory Doctorow critiques Google's monopolistic practices, arguing that the company has neglected its responsibility to serve users accurately, resulting in a platform rife with scams. He highlights Google's failure to differentiate between legitimate and fraudulent listings in search results and criticizes its prioritization of ad revenue over user safety. Through numerous examples, the author illustrates how Google's policies allow scammers to thrive while consumers suffer, questioning the ethics of a platform that has become a 'scammer's paradise.'