NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] The Google Chrome Paid Links Brouhaha
The Google Chrome Paid Links Brouhaha
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000925.html
A number of people have been asking me about the Google Chrome "paid
links" controversy that seems to have erupted. A bit of thought would
have revealed what was likely going on -- without all the drama -- but
let's review.
Yesterday, Danny Sullivan of "Search Engine Land" posted a rather
breathless and extensive "expose" titled "Google's Jaw-Dropping
Sponsored Post Campaign For Chrome" suggesting that Google was
purposely violating its own prohibitions and guidelines regarding paid
links (sponsored posts). [ http://j.mp/ArpjG2 (Search Engine Land) ].
I immediately suspected that some important piece of information was
missing. It simply didn't make sense for Google to be doing this
purposely, not only because it would indeed seem to violate their
guidelines, but also because it was so utterly obvious and was certain
to be instantly noticed!
What would be the upside of such an action that would so quickly draw
criticisms and scrutiny? There would be no upside, it would be
utterly stupid. And Google isn't perfect, but they're also not
stupid. It seemed logical to assume that some third-party confusion
was involved.
Of course this hit during the holiday weekend when people were
difficult to reach, but today the conspiracy theories blew apart when
an outside agency noted that Google didn't authorize such activities
and that outside bloggers had created those links inappropriately.
[ http://j.mp/xBDLvu (Google+) ]
Despite the fact that those links were not Google's fault, Google has
now announced that since technically the Google Chrome home page was
in essence pulled into violation by those outside links, Google will
(to enforce the letter of the rules the same way they would do with
other sites) reduce that page's search PageRank for 60 days.
So ends another ersatz Internet drama. As Spock might have said, a
bit of logic in the initial analysis -- it just didn't make sense for
Google to be purposely violating its own rules as accused -- could
have saved a whole bunch of typing.
But then, you know how those emotional humans behave!
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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