Don't be evil
The StoryNFT DropAbout
The StoryNFT DropAbout
The artwork that became synonymous with Google’s problematic ideals is now selling as an NFT
The Story Behind The Work
Don't Be Evil
Miri Segal & Or Even Tov, 2010
Colored aluminum letters, laser cut,
100.1 × 730.5 cm (39 2/5 × 287 3/5 in)
Photo: Elad Sarig
2010
2010, The artwork is created and exhibited for the first time at Dvir Gallery, Tel Aviv
2010
The work is physically exhibited at Dvir Gallery
Appearances in books
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The artwork appeared in "Future Perfect" 2010, an exhibition Made with Or Even Tov at Dvir Gallery, Tel Aviv, 2011. Its original dimensions were 17.5x130x5 cm (aluminium cut letters, edition of 5) several photographs circulated in the internet from that work, one made by Elad Sarig, One by Or Even Tov, and one was taken at the fiac art fair in Paris, were it was presented and sold out.

A Second version bigger (730, 100, 10 cm, edition of 3) was made several month later, also presented in Dvir Gallery in 2010.

The work was additionally exhibited in GALERIE ALAIN GUTHARC (2011) , at the online art fair VIP in 2011,  in the science museum 2012, at the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art 2018, At Pompidou Center, Brussels, at 2019,  and more...
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The artwork appeared in "Future Perfect" 2010, an exhibition Made with Or Even Tov at Dvir Gallery, Tel Aviv, 2011. Its original dimensions were 17.5x130x5 cm (aluminium cut letters, edition of 5) several photographs circulated in the internet from that work, one made by Elad Sarig, One by Or Even Tov, and one was taken at the fiac art fair in Paris, were it was presented and sold out.

A Second version bigger (730, 100, 10 cm, edition of 3) was made several month later, also presented in Dvir Gallery in 2010.

The work was additionally exhibited in GALERIE ALAIN GUTHARC (2011) , at the online art fair VIP in 2011,  in the science museum 2012, at the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art 2018, At Pompidou Center, Brussels, at 2019,  and more...
2010 —
Present
Images of the work spread across the Internet
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The dictum "Don't Be Evil" is written in the familiar font of Google's logo when the work was created (2010), it is characterized by an innocent and direct look in basic colors.  "Don't Be Evil" was the informal corporate motto of Google until 2018, It was meant to describe the company's code of conduct.

The childish language, in which it is stated, is a symbol for the new era in man technology relationship, where issues of ethics are resolved by a shift from human agency to machine (algorithmic) agency and issues of privacy are resolved by the public willingness to give it up completely - any precious historical or private memory is confided with the Internet.
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The dictum "Don't Be Evil" is written in the familiar font of Google's logo when the work was created (2010), it is characterized by an innocent and direct look in basic colors.  "Don't Be Evil" was the informal corporate motto of Google until 2018, It was meant to describe the company's code of conduct.

The childish language, in which it is stated, is a symbol for the new era in man technology relationship, where issues of ethics are resolved by a shift from human agency to machine (algorithmic) agency and issues of privacy are resolved by the public willingness to give it up completely - any precious historical or private memory is confided with the Internet.
Appears in relation to books
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Much of Google's problematic nature has been exposed over the years after 2010, attaining maximum intensitity with the Snowden affair (2014).

In this sense, the artwork had a prophetic value.Ironically, the work has been apropriated over and over again dozens, if not hundreds of times, by various media sites and newspapers around the world (in most cases without giving credit to the artists or noting that it was a work of art).

Images of it (taken by Elad Sarig) were used in articles addressing ethical issues and atrocities caused by Google.
+
-
Much of Google's problematic nature has been exposed over the years after 2010, attaining maximum intensitity with the Snowden affair (2014).

In this sense, the artwork had a prophetic value.Ironically, the work has been apropriated over and over again dozens, if not hundreds of times, by various media sites and newspapers around the world (in most cases without giving credit to the artists or noting that it was a work of art).

Images of it (taken by Elad Sarig) were used in articles addressing ethical issues and atrocities caused by Google.
2010 —
Present
Images of the work spread across the Internet
The artwork is modified, mutated, and "memed" across the web
The artwork is modified and
“memed” across the web
The artwork is modified and
“memed” across the web
Appearances across various articles of news and media outlets
Appearances across various articles of news and media outlets
Appearances across various articles of news and media outlets
2018
Google eventually backs away from their infamous slogan
2022
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It can be claimed that the artwork "don't be evil" fought back at google by reflecting back its dictum.

(Perhaps as a result), in May 2018, Google removed the "Don't Be Evil" from its Code of Conduct. Again, images of the work were used in articles regarding removal.
+
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It can be claimed, that the artwork, "Don't Be Evil" fought back at Google...

(Perhaps as a result), in May 2018, Google removed the "Don't Be Evil" from its Code of Conduct. Again, images of the work were used in articles regarding removal.
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35 DAYS 14 HOURS 2 MINUTES 11 SECONDS LEFT
The original “Don’t be evil” files are available for purchase on the ethereum blockchain
OpenSea
Foundation
PSD
Dont be evil.psd
Size: 614 KB (612,018 bytes)
Kind: Adobe Photoshop File
Created: 14 September 2010 at 9:38
JPG
Dont-Be-Evil.jpg
Size: 45 KB (43,440 bytes)
Kind: JPEG image
Created: 20 September 2010 at 3:08
PDF
31 PDF Webpage captures using the work
purchase a copy of "Don't be evil" framed in a unique article in which it appeared
Mirisegal.com
Or Even Tov
About the artist
Miri Segal is a New Media Artist currently living in Tel Aviv.
Segal holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Segal had solo exhibitions at Dvir Gallery (Tel Aviv), Moma PS1(New York), Lisson Gallery (London), Kamel MennourGallery (Paris), Tel Aviv Museum(Tel Aviv), and Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art (Herzliya), among others.
She has participated in group exhibitions and screenings at Tate Museum (London), Palais de Tokyo (Paris), Pompidou Center (Paris), Magasin III Stockholm, Kunstmuseum Luzern (Luzern), Tokyo wonder site (Tokyo) and more

Segal is a senior lecturer at the fine arts department in Bezalel. She was the head of the Postgraduate Fine Art program at “Hamidrasha” (till 2019) and research fellow at the Advanced Reality Lab, IDC, till 2016.

Segal is the recipient of the Gottesdiener Israeli Art Prize, The Minister of Culture Prize for Excellence, Dizengoff Prize, Pundig Prize, as well as several other awards.

Segal has developed some projects in the seam between Art and Technology and science. Her artistic language employs a variety of media – including video, light sculptures, text and treated objects involving hardware and software. Her works often invade the viewer's space in unexpected ways, via sensory manipulations, and crafted technology, thus encouraging viewers to question what they see before them.In her practice, Segal deals with philosophical questions regarding existence, the ethics of technology, and economic-political regimes. Segal is represented by Dvir Gallery: Tel Aviv, Brussels & Paris 

— Collaborator Or Even Tov is a cinematographer
All rights reserved, Miri Segal, 2022
Designed & developed by Shachar Kantor
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The artwork appeared in "Future Perfect" 2010, an exhibition Made with Or Even Tov at Dvir Gallery, Tel Aviv, 2011. Its original dimensions were 17.5x130x5 cm (aluminium cut letters, edition of 5) several photographs circulated in the internet from that work, one made by Elad Sarig, One by Or Even Tov, and one was taken at the fiac art fair in Paris, were it was presented and sold out.

A Second version bigger (730, 100, 10 cm, edition of 3) was made several month later, also presented in Dvir Gallery in 2010.

The work was additionally exhibited in GALERIE ALAIN GUTHARC (2011) , at the online art fair VIP in 2011,  in the science museum 2012, at the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art 2018, At Pompidou Center, Brussels, at 2019,  and more...
+
The dictum "Don't Be Evil" is written in the familiar font of Google's logo when the work was created (2010), it is characterized by an innocent and direct look in basic colors.
"Don't Be Evil" was the informal corporate motto of Google until 2018, It was meant to describe the company's code of conduct.
The childish language, in which it is stated, is a symbol for the new era in man technology relationship, where issues of ethics are resolved by a shift from human agency to machine (algorithmic) agency and issues of privacy are resolved by the public willingness to give it up completely - any precious historical or private memory is confided with the Internet.
+
Much of Google's problematic nature has been exposed over the years after 2010, attaining maximum intensitity with the Snowden affair (2014). In this sense, the artwork had a prophetic value.Ironically, the work has been apropriated over and over again dozens, if not hundreds of times, by various media sites and newspapers around the world (in most cases without giving credit to the artists or noting that it was a work of art). Images of it (taken by Elad Sarig) were used in articles addressing ethical issues and atrocities caused by Google.
+
It can be claimed, that the artwork, "Don't Be Evil" fought back at Google...

(Perhaps as a result), in May 2018, Google removed the "Don't Be Evil" from its Code of Conduct. Again, images of the work were used in articles regarding removal.