Recognizing the proliferation of deceptive, fraudlent, and "junk" software, Google announced a new code of conduct for software developers.

From Google's announcement:

We're alarmed by what we believe is a growing disregard for your rights as computer users. We've seen increasing reports of spyware and other applications that trick you ... We do not see this trend reversing itself. In fact, it is getting worse.... we feel a responsibility to be proactive about these issues.

We believe software should not trick you into installing it....if the application makes money by showing you advertising, it should clearly and conspicuously explain this....It should be easy for you to figure out how to disable or delete an application....if an application collects or transmits your personal information such as your address, you should know....Getting paid to distribute undesirable software enables more undesirable software.

Spyware and deceptive applications aren't limited to the virus and hacker underground -- major companies like this one and this one are accused of promoting or supporting these practices.

Google has submitted the guidelines for public comment. You can send your feedback to software-principles@google.com.

This is pretty old news, and pretty dubious news at that. The real question is why does Google feel the need to create a rule not to be evil? Obviously there is internal pressure to be evil, which must be opposed? Well the only way to oppose evil is to figure out some kind of police force, which will probably eventually stifle creativity in Google's development if everything they do has to be scrutinized by some kind of 'no-evil' department. How about making their motto, make what the customer would want? That really should be the motto of any corporation, that's really the only good long term strategy.