Vatican Google Bomb
A page rank 3 website has google bombed the term “vatican” through a a twitter feed.
In what seems to be the latest high-profile Google Bomb in a while, a search in Google.IT last week returned links to a website named upon child-abuse in the top search result.
Interestingly enough, the site that was being linked to was seemingly empty, with the exception of some cleverly crafted meta-information.
After some back-link analysis on the site, we found a prominent blog with page rank 3 and some 50+ pages had a twitter feed containing the link, and a reference to the vatican.
A screen shot of the top position is here
This demonstrates that black-hat SEO is still powerful way of getting your site to the top of the SERPs in the short term, however we are adamantly against the practice.
A search in Google IT today has shown that the false website is no longer indexed.
iPhone 4.0 and IADS
Apple announced the release of iPhone 4.0 Operating System last week, in big conference-style no less, demonstrating all of the new features the wizard gadgetry has to offer.
One of the most interesting developments to come out of the announcement is “iAds“.
iAds are online advertising featured within installed applications and web-pages. In essence, iads are to mobile phones, what adwords are to Google searches. It is presumed that developers will use iads to subsidise the supply of free applications, similar to what is already going on withing Google Android application development.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs claims that over 1 Billion ad impressions are expected in the mobile advertising space per day, and research group Gartner expect revenue from mobile advertising to tip over $1.6Billion this year alone.
Given the roaming nature of a mobile user, we expect this advertising to be even more targeted, and be more locale-specific than ever, with ads for a nearby pizza store being targeted to the user’s handset.
These are interesting times for online advertising, and the progress of monetisation of the mobile space, and particularly the success of iads is something SearchNews will be keeping a close watch on.
Google weighs in on internet filter
Google’s Australian division, has added it’s 2 cents to the debate on the Internet Filter Policy proposed by the Labour Government of Australia to filter all web traffic it’s citizens view and deny access to refused classification or other objectional content.
In it’s blog, Google have openly opposed the Australian Internet Filter, and submitted it’s arguments to the Labour party including:
- The filter would block access to some important content, including some politically controversial content, with Google indicates is vital in democracy.
- It removes choices, claiming that parents will become complacent, under a false sense of security, believing they or their children will be protected from harm on the internet.
- Isn’t effective in protecting children, because the objectional content is often found outside of HTTP websites.
They’ve also stated it will signficantly slow down internet access of large websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google’s own video channel, YouTube.
Google has used Youtube as an example, citing it’s Community Guidelines Policy, and self-regulation, and also said that the government should shift it’s focus to user education to help improve online safety.
We at SearchNews are very opinionated on the matter also, we also believe that the filter is poorly thought out, will put burdens on resources, having a direct impact on internet access pricing, and will have a detremental effect on internet access in Australia.
We beleive there are much better ways to protect children and weed out criminals, and that our tax-payer’s dollars can be better allocated to other programs.
The Proposed Internet Filter Policy will be brought before the senate in coming weeks, however it will require support from the Australian Liberal Party to pass into legislation.
We will be watching with great anticipation and hope the outcome is the Internet Filter Policy being shelved as a technological blunder in the history of the Australian Government.
For related information see the following websites:
Google Trademark Guidelines
We’ve reported on several occassions about various insurance companies using Google’s name (their trademark) without permission.
This is becoming so common occurence, with the term “Google it” being referenced in TV advertising campaigns, and not forgetting Television programs and movies. The occurrence is barely worth mentioning, except to say that Google has a set of published Guidelines that define permissible use of their name or trademark.
The article is published at http://www.google.com/permissions/guidelines.html
It also contains a list of Google’s trademarked names, which is handy for anybody who trades with Google or provides associated or re-branded services, or just wants to make reference to the name Google, and is curious about their rights to use the Google name.
If in doubt, simply don’t use it!