Is Google's ranking algorithm an anti-trust violation?

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19
Hi

I was looking at some products by legal warrior kindsvater and one is a WP plugin that hides affiliate links.

The idea is, Google looks for affiliate links and devalues sites/pages that have them for SEO purposes. Links masked 'pretty links' style don't help as Google simply follows the masked link and finds the affiliate url anyway.

This got me thinking. Would Amazon (or other affiliate business CJ, CB) have any traction making an antitrust complaint?

Google is using its dominance to unfairly target sites that legally and ethically engage in Amazon's affiliate program.

By putting sites with affiliate links on a "less valuable" tier they are financially harming both Amazon and their affiliates.

Google's only response (thus far) is "in our opinion, sites with affiliate links are of less value to the public and devaluing them is in the public's best interest".

So, does Google actually devalue a page's SEO score if they detect affiliate links?

And if so, isn't that an anti-trust violation as those links are legally placed and used as part of another company's business?

Curious about opinions.
#search engine optimization #algorithm #antitrust #google #ranking #violation
  • I can't find that quote - where did you get it from?
    • [1] reply
    • Sorry, I was paraphrasing their general attitude, not quoting a direct statement.

      If you read through their ToS you will see they define a "thin" site with no value as any site with affiliate links.

      My question is, do they actually devalue affiliate links or is that speculation?

      And, if they do devalue affiliate links, would that be considered an anti-trust violation?

      I realize that a lot of what Google does is considered 'anti-trust' by a lot of people, but it is expensive and difficult to pursue. As Google has faced the issues before.

      Edit: I'm not saying this is happening, I have just read it from a number of sources and I'm wondering (as some who replied have) if it is true or another Google myth. If it is true, I am thinking it could be anti-trust issue.

      In any event, it may be moot because as grotesque as some of Google's behaviour is, the government doesn't seem to want another anti-trust tangle with them.
      • [1] reply
  • May i ask if there has been any test carried out, or any proof to show that google devalues sites because they have a lot of affiliate links? Or is this still just another IM myth?

  • I have no problems ranking sites/pages with raw affiliate links. Neve cloaked or hidden one in my life. I have no idea why people believe they are a problem with SEO.

    The number of affiliate links on a page can have a negative impact on rankings, but affiliates links themselves are not a problem.

    Google views affiliates links as an advert, too many of them (just like to many Adsense ads) on a page looks spammy and will have a negative impact. Just don't go over board with affiliate links and you'll be fine.
    • [1] reply
    • Interesting, are there any evidence of this?

      Also, if you nofollow the affiliate links, does that change things? (I suspect not)
      • [2] replies
  • Banned
    Not being able to rank a page in the SERPs sounds like a personal problem to me, stop looking for excuses & learn to rank pages.

    Related thread for above the fold.
  • Not sure if it is. But we'll do a search and gather more info...
  • You don't think google has free speech rights to express its own opinions on its own sites?
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Banned

      That's exactly how a lot of people act If they're not ranked #1 in Google SERPs. If they're not ranked #1 Google must be screwing them over. Those same people would whine & cry If they were told what to do with their own sites but they think it's ok to do Google that way (tell them how to run their site/SERPs). Nothing more aggravating than people that walk around with their hands out & the What can you give me way of thinking.
  • hmmmm, i have never heard of that myself, but to be on the safe side just include a few affiliate links.
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