Free Fishbowl by Matthew Glass Page B

per cent, or 60 per cent, or even more, it wasn’t apparent to them. But Andrei had detected that the list numbers had contracted dramatically.
    A little more investigation revealed that names from Homeplace, the world’s biggest social network, were no longer coming up on Fishbowll searches.
    In an all-night wheelspin, Andrei and Kevin independently checked the relevant coding to see if a bug had crept in. Considering the tiers of functionality that had now been layered over the original Fishbowll search algorithm, it was possible that a piece of coding had been introduced that inadvertently had the effect of excluding the names. There was nothing. When they were finished – with a couple of dozen empty Coke cans scattered on the floor between them – they looked at each other wearily, knowing that they were going to have to check it all again.
    Ben appeared, looking obscenely fresh after a full night’s sleep, and asked what they had found.
    â€˜You know,’ he said, when they told him they had drawn a blank, ‘I was thinking, what if it’s not us? What if it’s them?’
    â€˜Homeplace?’ said Kevin. ‘They’ve got a bug? Is that what you mean?’
    â€˜No, I mean, what if they’re keeping us out on purpose?’
    â€˜Keeping us out?’ said Kevin incredulously. ‘Dude, you think Mike Sweetman even knows we exist?’
    â€˜Well, maybe not us. I mean, maybe they’re keeping everyone out. Anyone who’s accessing them. Could they do that?’
    Andrei and Kevin exchanged a glance. It was possible. There was constant tension between social networks, which wanted to keep people within their sites for as much of their online time as possible, and search engines, which wanted their users to be able to search social networks from outside. Technically, it would be a relatively easy thing for the networks to shield themselves from the web crawlers that the search engines – and Fishbowll, as well – used to access them. A cold war existed between them, with the potential to turn hot at any time. There was an unspoken understanding that Mike Sweetman, the CEO of Homeplace, and the CEOs of the other social networks weren’t going to shield their services entirely. But it was a step that was just waiting to be taken.
    And, naturally, if the war had broken out, as in any conflict there was going to be collateral damage.
    There was a glum silence.
    â€˜If Homeplace gets away with this, every network is going to do it,’ said Kevin eventually.
    â€˜But we don’t just look at social networks, right?’ said Ben.
    â€˜Dude, ninety-eight per cent of our names come from social networks. We’re a meta-network. You can’t be meta if you’ve got nothing underneath you. The social networks cut access – we’re dead.’ Kevin glanced at Andrei. ‘Should have taken the money when it was offered.’
    â€˜I never had an offer,’ said Andrei impatiently.
    Charles Gok came out of the room he shared with Ben. Normally he walked straight through the common room, ignoring the wheelspin or the discussion or whatever Fishbowll activity happened to be taking place. But this time he stopped. Even Charles could sense that something was wrong. The room was silent. Andrei, Kevin and Ben were just sitting there, looking miserable.
    â€˜Guys,’ he said. ‘You OK?’
    They nodded gloomily.
    He sat down. The silence continued.
    â€˜OK,’ he said. ‘This is fun.’
    More silence.
    â€˜I’m going to go get breakfast on the way to the lab. Anyone want to come?’
    â€˜Not me,’ said Kevin.
    Andrei shook his head.
    â€˜Later,’ said Ben.
    Charles got up. ‘OK, well, I’m going to go get dressed, and if anyone wants to, like, come to breakfast, that’s cool.’ He paused. ‘OK,’ he said, and he went back to his room.
    The silence continued.
    â€˜So what