The text was created within the framework of the WP Opinion project. Presenting the diverse views of commentators and opinion leaders on major social and political issues.
Let's take a look at this “lovely” chain. The content provider transmits to Google Incorrect data about the zloty exchange rate. Google introduces them. Politicians and publicists are starting to draw conclusions about Polish statehood based on false data. A famous YouTuber threatens war. The Minister of Finance reassures us – he says that this is just a mistake.
The next morning, the Polish Press Agency publishes a telegram based on false data, indicating that the zloty strengthened by several tens of percent on Tuesday. In relation to the euro, even though this is not true. As a result, fake information takes a different turn as the cable is published by many internet portals.
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He can do anything, he is not responsible for anything
The first is the question of the liability of Google and, more broadly, so-called big technology.
Last night everyone was talking about the “Google bug”. Today I see more and more explanations that Google is not responsible for what happened because it has a “disclaimer”. Indeed, it is. Even after typing a few magic spells into the search engine and clicking on the appropriate tab, you can read a long, difficult to digest information about what this “disclaimer” is.
In short: this digital system is built in such a way that the global digital giants can do almost anything and are responsible for almost nothing.
On its website, in one of the tabs, Google informs that “All data and information are presented “as is for informational purposes and personal use only” and that “Google does not guarantee the accuracy of the displayed exchange rates”.
This makes sense: it's not like a Googler is looking at tons of data coming from all over the world and entering it into Excel that the zloty has strengthened by 0.2% against the euro. Anyone with a grasp of reality and business fundamentals knows that Google is simply buying a service – the provision of data – from another entity.
But this – in my opinion – does not change much. The fact is that Google's power of influence over what happens even in large countries means that it is impossible to “exclude liability” from errors in data submission.
As a society that gives a lot to Google (the market position depends on the users, although I know that in today's reality this is an extreme simplification, not to say naive), we have the right to expect a lot. Therefore, while the “exclusion of liability” may be important in various types of court proceedings, it loses its meaning outside of court.
Politics and Panic
Another thing – and this is my second observation – is that Google did something useful: it proved how many unreasonable and/or irresponsible people there are in Polish society. And, unfortunately, in important positions in the state.
On Monday evening, I saw tweets from at least five MPs who, based on false data, made far-reaching conclusions about Polish statehood, or rather its dissolution. Most of these posts have since been deleted, and some have started to explain themselves that “maybe it wasn't like that now, but it could have been”.
Some of them, I have the impression, really believed that the Polish currency had weakened dramatically. They did not even think to check the second source of this information. They assumed that if something was listed on Google, it must be true.
A famous YouTuber (but worthy of attention) predicted Poland's participation in the war. However, I have the impression that he knew very well that there was no crisis. He just makes money by creating panic. People reading this nonsense had every right to be scared.
The whole issue is not whether it was possible to exchange zlotys for euros or dollars at the rate presented by Google. It is about the peace of citizens that everything is working properly in the country.
When we hear from many sources, including politicians, that the Polish currency is rapidly collapsing, we have every right to be afraid. And not just about our wallets, but about our security.
Therefore, it would be good if the partisans would pause for a moment before pressing the “publish” button. I understand that the opposition should attack the government in every possible way, but there are situations when it is worth thinking for a moment whether this is not a way to frighten citizens for no reason.
But Google will take responsibility for the courses presented sooner than Polish politicians will learn that there are situations when it is not worth “doing politics” in a way that is harmful to the country.
Patrik Slowik is a journalist for Wirtualna Polska
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