Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss

timpears · 09-05-2010, 09:18 PM

Looks like the Texas AG (Greg Abbot) is investigating them for manipulating search engine results, due to the complaint of some of Google's competition. They are also being looked into in Brussels. Read the story at the link.

Google faces first US competition inquiry | Technology | The Guardian

dvduval · 09-05-2010, 09:46 PM

It is important to recognize Google is a for profit corporation that must satisfy the demands of shareholders.

davidjames42973 · 09-05-2010, 10:00 PM

Wow! Interesting article. Thanks for sharing...

Rich Struck · 09-05-2010, 10:21 PM

Quote:

The three – myTriggers and SourceTool/TradeComet in the US, and Foundem in the UK – have accused Google of reducing their traffic by pushing them down its search rankings.

This has been tried before, Google will just laugh at them. By this logic everyone who isn't in a #1 spot should be able to sue... So stuuuuuupid.

iamjohnathan · 09-05-2010, 10:36 PM

Great article, but it doesn't matter what Google does. dvdual is correct when saying Google is only required to keep shareholders happy. Webmasters, small business, and one-man operations aren't entitled to anything.

Johnathan

MilesT · 09-05-2010, 10:47 PM

We use Google therefore we abide by their TOC, which is probably very fluid document.

CDarklock · 09-06-2010, 12:54 AM

I find Google's blog post very odd. It very nearly accuses Microsoft of being behind this whole thing, when honestly, you can't swing a cat in the upper levels of internet companies without hitting someone that either is or has been working with Microsoft.

Fraggler · 09-06-2010, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvduval

It is important to recognize Google is a for profit corporation that must satisfy the demands of shareholders.

It isn't always as simple as that. Banks for example are often also publicly listed companies but they still must play by certain rules. Lots of industries do. Search engines are still a pretty new industry so the rules still haven't been written yet.

Will it become a regulated industry? Who knows! If peoples business are directly affected by them then I would expect some governments to try and put some guidelines in place.

timpears · 09-08-2010, 11:02 PM

As much as I am a libertarian when it comes to government regulations, I feel that Google seems to feel that they can push people around and just make arbitrary decisions when it suits them. It is good to see someone not taking it lying down.

Will they prevail? Who knows? But if enough people stand up to Google, maybe they will think twice before they push people around, one of these days.

09-05-2010, 09:18 PM	#1
timpears Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, WA, USA. Posts: 3,500 Thanks: 327 Thanked 584 Times in 408 Posts	Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss Looks like the Texas AG (Greg Abbot) is investigating them for manipulating search engine results, due to the complaint of some of Google's competition. They are also being looked into in Brussels. Read the story at the link. Google faces first US competition inquiry \| Technology \| The Guardian
	Tim Pears

09-05-2010, 09:46 PM	#2
dvduval phpLD master War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Silicon Valley Posts: 3,119 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 49 Thanked 334 Times in 273 Posts Social Networking	Re: Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss It is important to recognize Google is a for profit corporation that must satisfy the demands of shareholders.
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09-05-2010, 10:00 PM	#3
davidjames42973 David James Ostiguy War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 865 Thanks: 334 Thanked 143 Times in 111 Posts Social Networking	Re: Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss Wow! Interesting article. Thanks for sharing...
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09-05-2010, 10:36 PM	#5
iamjohnathan Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss Great article, but it doesn't matter what Google does. dvdual is correct when saying Google is only required to keep shareholders happy. Webmasters, small business, and one-man operations aren't entitled to anything. Johnathan

09-05-2010, 10:47 PM	#6
MilesT Think "Relationships" War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 322 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 18 Thanked 77 Times in 49 Posts Social Networking	Re: Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss We use Google therefore we abide by their TOC, which is probably very fluid document.

09-06-2010, 12:54 AM	#7
CDarklock AT gmail DOT com War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 7,636 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 1,903 Thanked 6,237 Times in 2,799 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss I find Google's blog post very odd. It very nearly accuses Microsoft of being behind this whole thing, when honestly, you can't swing a cat in the upper levels of internet companies without hitting someone that either is or has been working with Microsoft.

09-08-2010, 11:02 PM	#9
timpears Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Vancouver, WA, USA. Posts: 3,500 Thanks: 327 Thanked 584 Times in 408 Posts	Re: Google being investigated for manipulating rankingss As much as I am a libertarian when it comes to government regulations, I feel that Google seems to feel that they can push people around and just make arbitrary decisions when it suits them. It is good to see someone not taking it lying down. Will they prevail? Who knows? But if enough people stand up to Google, maybe they will think twice before they push people around, one of these days.
	Tim Pears