Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is a company that likes to try and spearhead progressive change in the digital age we are all leaving in now. Google CEO, Dr. Eric Schmidt, likes to paint pictures of the future nternet and all that's involved with it, and this week he painted on heckuva doomsday scenario when his mental paintbrush drew a scary picture.

That picture? Those in control of the internet may be so scared of the misuse of personal information that they may stop at nothing to ensure they suffocate the web with stifling regulations as billions more around the world go online in the near future.

Schmidt explained that a small number of companies would become gatekeepers to the entire web, while forcing all internet users to interact in "highly regimented" ways. OK, I get his idea now -- the freedoms we as customers and users of the Internet enjoy now would be stifled in many ways by safeguards from paranoid gatekeepers that are intent on identity verification for all people, parties and transactions that take place over the web. Sounds a little cheeky, but I get what he was trying to say.

Right now, is the internet based on a set of self-governing rules and regulations? You bet it is -- for the most part. I can see that Schmidt's scenario might revolve hurting Google with its vaunted advertising revenue stream. Still, outside of that, I agree with him in that setting up a few large, global gatekeepers would invite instant corruption -- like anything with just a few entities in charge almost always invites.