> I suppose it would be more reasonable to just compare it to a security firm though.

That's why the analogy is not interesting; the use of "mafia" is silly because it implies there's some criminal element to Google's intensions. For example, here's the opening line of that Wikipedia page:

> A protection racket is a scheme whereby a criminal group provides protection to businesses through violence outside the sanction of the law.

The only word this has in common with what Google is doing is "protection". The analogy captures nothing useful that "hiring a security guard" doesn't. But it also captures a whole universe of other implications that are entirely unwarranted and laughably unfair. It's a terrible analogy.

"You're just like a mafia don in that you also drive a car."

I should disclaim that I don't think the offering is above suspicion and criticism, just that the comparison to a protection racket is absurd.

Thanks for clarifying, that's exactly what I meant.