I'm honestly curious what they mean when they say "Google's customers". Are they referring to Google's _users_, or the much smaller group of people who pay for Google services?
This isn't just snark. I think that a corporation's responsibilities to its customers are different than the ones it has to its users, and its relationship to its customers should naturally be different than its relationship to its users. I wonder to what extent this distinction exists in Google's culture.
Users of Google's free services may not pay Google directly, but the currency is different and Google relies on both types of customers to stay in business.
As for responsibilities, they are the same as for any other company: provide better and better value while staying in business. Companies are not supposed to be socially-responsible, and shouldn't be treated as such.
This isn't just snark. I think that a corporation's responsibilities to its customers are different than the ones it has to its users, and its relationship to its customers should naturally be different than its relationship to its users. I wonder to what extent this distinction exists in Google's culture.
[Edited to fix an error in diction]