Google Buys Search Ad In Response To The China Decision

Jan 20, 2010 at 4:39pm ET by Barry Schwartz

The Wall Street Journal noted that Google has purchased search ads for queries done on Google.com for “Google Leaves China” or “Google vs. Baidu.” Clearly, Google wants people to read their position on the recent move for them ending the censorship of Google China.

Here is a picture of the ad:

Google, on occasion, will buy search ads to explain why the search results are a certain way. Here, they are explaining why Google China is no longer censored, but previously they have purchased ads for why an offensive image of Michelle Obama appeared on Google Images. They have also purchased ads for explaining why certain anti-semitic pages rank for the keyword [jew].

Which reminds me, I posted this morning at the Search Engine Roundtable how the 1st image for Jesus in Google has a picture of Jesus smoking a cigarette and drinking a can of beer. I wonder if Google will show an explanation for that image result as well in the near future.

Buzz It

Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here.

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