Google proposes new search display to avoid EU antitrust fine
Google's latest proposal to EU regulators could reshape how search results are displayed, with potential ripple effects for advertisers across key verticals.
Topic: European people
This day in search marketing history: March 26
More sites move to Google mobile-first indexing, plus: Google penalizes entire site over one guest blog post, Google Maps logo bomb and more.
This day in search marketing history: February 25
SEOs upset over Google featured snippets, plus: Google's red Slow label, Google Panda fallout, PageRank 301 redirect dilution myth and more.
This day in search marketing history: January 21
Google explains the core algorithm, plus: indexifembedded, Google sets sights on content farms, trademarketing SEO and more.
Google’s search choice screen had virtually no effect on search market share, perhaps by design
Auction participants say the model favors ad-heavy search engines and redirects their profits to Google.
Top EU court blows up data transfer agreement relied on by Google, Facebook, Amazon
Privacy Shield is dead, what now for U.S. brands and marketers doing business in the European Union?
Nearly 50 states’ attorneys general join in antitrust investigation of Google
Facebook is also being investigated in another multistate action lead by New York.
FTC: Breaking up Google, Facebook to restore competition on the table
We're a long way away from that, but a rhetorical Rubicon has been crossed.
Reports: Google, Amazon to face new antitrust inquiries in changed political climate
Reportedly the DOJ will investigate Google and the FTC will take on Amazon.
SearchCap: Google mobile first indexing, Bing side bar ads and intelligent search expands
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google begins rolling out mobile-first indexing to more sitesMar 26, 2018 by Barry Schwartz Sites that follow the best practices for mobile-first indexing will be migrating over now, and Google will […]
Europeans again raise the specter of breaking up Google
More of a bargaining position, it's extremely unlikely to actually happen.
French privacy regulator fines Google for not removing RTBF links outside of Europe
CNIL in France refuses to compromise on demand that Google remove all Right to Be Forgotten content from its entire index.
Google To Remove Right-To-Be-Forgotten Links Worldwide, For Searchers In European Countries
Links will no longer show for those in the particular country where a RTBF request was made, regardless of the Google edition they use.
Microsoft Makes It Harder To Break Up With Bing In Windows 10, Critics Cry Foul
Windows 10 (so far) is a hit for Microsoft. It has been well reviewed, it’s free, and it already has millions of downloads. It also makes IE successor Edge the browser default and makes it harder to switch away from Bing as your default search engine. There are roughly 1.5 billion Windows PC users around […]
Google Fights France To Prevent Globalization Of The Right-to-Be-Forgotten
Google has formally appealed France’s data protection authority’s order that Google apply Right-to-Be-Forgotten (RTBF) removals to its global index. The Commission Nationale de l’informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) had protested Google’s Europe-only removal policy and threatened to fine the company €150,000 ($169,000) for failing to apply the rule on a worldwide basis. Previously Google said […]
Focus On User Group Uses Google Algorithm To Attack Map Pack
Yesterday a new anti-Google consortium called “Focus on the User” launched a website that cleverly uses Google’s own words and algorithm to make an argument against Google+ Local (map pack) search results. It also operates as a concrete proposal that might substitute for the now defunct “rival links” compromise in the Google-EU antitrust matter. One […]
SearchCap: Bing Opens EU ‘Forgotten’ Form, Marin Supports Google Shopping Campaigns & More
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Marin Software Adds Support For Google Shopping Campaigns Marin Software has added support for Google Shopping Campaigns, which will become the only way to manage Product Listing Ads (PLAs) in AdWords […]
Bing Opens Its Right To Be Forgotten Form
Over six weeks after Google launched their form for Europeans who want to make their Right To Be Forgotten request, Microsoft Bing has launched theirs over here. The form does differ from Google’s but both Google and Bing, as well as other search engines, have the obligation to follow the mandate and review each request […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 14, 2013
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the Web. From Search Engine Land: Spurred By PRISM Scandal, StartPage & Ixquick Surpass 3 Million Daily Searches Alternative search engines are having a good week, likely thanks to public awareness and concern over data and privacy […]
Will Google’s Expected $1.3 Billion Waze Acquisition Be Allowed?
Early yesterday, Israeli business website Globes.co.il said that Google will acquire social mapping app Waze for $1.3 billion. That report has subsequently been all-but-confirmed by others, including the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which said the announcement could come this week. The WSJ said that by size Waze would constitute Google’s fourth largest acquisition, assuming it comes to pass. […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, February 25, 2013
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the Web. From Search Engine Land: Google Panda Two Years Later: The Real Impact Beyond Rankings & SEO Visibility (Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles looking at the aftermath of Google’s Panda […]
Europeans Taking Sweet Time In Resolving Antitrust Case With Google
Google’s antitrust case in the US concluded in January, much to the dismay of companies that had been agitating for tough action by the FTC. It was seen as a near total victory for Google. Rivals quickly turned their attention to Europe in the hope that, unencumbered by some of the legal issues that inhibited US regulators, it […]
Google, Mobile Search And The Paradox Of Competition
How much does Google figure into the “future of search,” whose advances will largely be determined by mobile and non-traditional devices? That’s a hard question to answer. On the one hand Google is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) brand in the world, with almost unlimited resources to develop technology or buy companies […]
From Praise To Outrage: Reactions To Google’s Antitrust Settlement
The post-mortem analysis of Google’s antitrust settlement happened very quickly yesterday and this morning with some journalists and analysts concluding that factors other than the law were responsible behind the scenes. For example, Politico asserts it was largely “a calculated and expensive charm offensive” (lobbying) that drove the outcome yesterday. An even more absurd analysis argues that […]
FTC Closes Google Antitrust Case: “Law Protects Competition Not Competitors,” Not Enough Evidence To Prove “Search Bias”
After 19 months of investigation, political maneuvering, lobbying and intense speculation the FTC has closed its antitrust investigation of Google. The outcome is almost exactly as we reported yesterday and it’s probably legally correct. Google comes away largely unscathed from the process. One can hear the celebrations getting started in Mountain View. The settlement has […]
Report: Google Antitrust Settlement Coming Tomorrow, Opponents Frustrated With FTC
Much is already known about the contours of the likely antitrust settlement between Google and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The terms of the settlement were previously “leaked” (intentionally or otherwise) a couple of weeks ago and critics quickly berated the FTC as having “rolled over.” Broadly speaking, the rumors were that Google would […]
Report: FTC To Say Google Did Not Violate Antitrust Laws
The New York Post is reporting that relatively soon, possibly as early as next week, the FTC is scheduled to announce a settlement of its antitrust investigation and potential claims against Google. The Post says that settlement will substantially let Google off the hook: Federal regulators are expected to close a year-long probe of Google’s […]
US, European Antitrust Regulators To Confer On Google Case
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the top two US and European antitrust regulators will meet in Europe next week to compare notes and discuss potential outcomes. Both are negotiating with Google to settle antitrust claims that would avoid formal legal action. The FTC’s Chairman Jon Leibowitz will meet with the EU’s Joaquin Almunia. […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, October 15, 2012
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: DuckDuckGo’s New Video Targets Google’s “Filter Bubble” Of Personalized Results DuckDuckGo’s ongoing mission to challenge Google (and other search engines, but mainly Google) on privacy issues has taken another turn with […]
Settlement Of Google-Europe Antitrust Claims Might Involve Labeling “Google Products” In SERP
This morning I read Danny Sullivan’s letter to the FTC about paid inclusion and search engine disclosures. It was prompted by NexTag CEO Jeffrey Katz’s article last week in the Wall Street Journal complaining about Google’s market dominance and alleged abuse of that position. Contained within Danny’s article is a potential face-saving solution to the […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 8, 2012
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google’s May Updates: Inorganic Backlinks, Page Titles, Fresh Results & More Google’s latest batch of search quality updates is online, and offers some insight into a variety of search- and SEO-related […]
How “Facebook Search” Could Help Google Escape The Antitrust Noose
Last week in the Chicago Tribune former judge and scholar Robert Bork (who is also a Google advisor) penned an opinion column arguing that by the accepted standards of antitrust law Google has done nothing legally wrong. Bork says, “There is extraordinary competition in the search engine business. Look at the proliferation of what are […]
Survey Paradox: People Like Google But Not What It’s Doing
Last week the Pew Internet Project released findings of a survey on search, personalization and targeted advertising. In a nutshell, survey respondents had a very positive view of search and the quality of search results. Yet the majority gave an unequivocal thumbs down to search personalization (and behavioral targeting). This isn’t necessarily a contradiction or paradox […]
Google Is Watching You (Or Not): New Privacy Policy Takes Effect Today
With several governments and regulatory bodies around the world saying that Google’s new privacy policy may violate their domestic rules (Europe, Japan), it goes into effect today. Advocacy group EPIC has been trying to block it saying that the consolidated privacy policy violates Google’s earlier settlement with the FTC in the Buzz case/investigation. However that […]
Cookiegate Another Privacy Black Eye For Google
Call it “Cookiegate” — or “Safarigate” perhaps. Late last night we got the Wall Street Journal’s piece: “Google’s iPhone Tracking: Web Giant, Others Bypassed Apple Browser Settings for Guarding Privacy.” Danny covered the article and its claims extensively at Marketing Land. This morning there’s an expanding debate about whether the WSJ mischaracterized Google’s behavior unfairly […]
Survey: People Largely Negative About Google’s Personalized Search Results
Last month, market research tool provider Ask Your Target Market surveyed 400 US adults about their attitudes toward personalized search on Google. The results were reported today in eMarketer’s email newsletter. We went back to the source to check out the survey and discovered that the majority of respondents expressed ambivalence or outright dissatisfaction about Google’s […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, February 3, 2012
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: 5 Common Tracking Problems: How To Troubleshoot & Fix Them I spend a lot of time trying to figure out exactly what is wrong with some clients’ analytics installs. Unlike types […]
Global Social Network Stats Confirm Facebook As Largest In U.S. & Europe (With 3 Times The Usage Of 2nd Place)
A recent study by InSites Consulting revealed the flourishing global social media scene, how different countries and continents use social networks and the stranglehold that Facebook has in the market. InSites surveyed more than 9,000 respondents about social media usage, tendencies and thoughts. American Social Network Usage The study revealed that 76% of Americans use social network sites, a higher adoption […]
Google Shopping, Product Extensions, Come To Four New Countries
Google has launched Shopping, aka Product Search, in four new countries today — The Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Australia. The company has also launched Merchant Center in Australia. Users of Google search in these countries will now see Shopping results on their main search results page, and can refine by clicking a Shopping tab on […]
Yahoo Search Data Retention Goes From 90 Days To 18 Months
As the privacy screws tighten in the US and Europe, Yahoo is doing something surprising: extending the time it holds on to personal search records. In 2008 Yahoo decided to retain search records for only three months. Yahoo thus became the most “progressive” of the major search sites with its compressed data-retention policy. Now Yahoo […]