By Will Sturgeon, 6 February 2006 15:20
NEWS
Google has handed out one of its most effective punishments to BMW amid allegations the German car manufacturer was abusing techniques for boosting its position in search engine results.
The search giant has wiped out BMW's Google ranking on its domestic website, effectively demoting its website's presence on the internet, although Google declined to comment on the precise reasons why this action was taken.
At the centre of the row are allegations that BMW made full use of key word placements in order to ensure its website appeared above all others for certain searches. And while such practices are far from illegal they do overstep the line in the sand drawn by Google's rules of best practice and 'fair use'.
In past cases the punishment has proven to be so effective that many have taken to calling it the 'Google death sentence'.
A statement from Google said: "We can confirm that BMW.de has been removed from our search results. We never comment on the specifics of individual cases but we would stress that the quality of our index and search results is of the utmost importance to Google."
The statement added: "We cannot tolerate websites trying to manipulate search results as we aim to provide users with relevant and objective search results."
Google may ban any site which uses tactics "designed to distort their rankings or mislead users", according to the statement, however they will be reinstated once Google is satisfied the site is no longer breaching its guidelines.
At the time of writing BMW had not responded to a request for comment.
Google meanwhile in another story is being linked with BMW's German rival Volkswagen over a deal that could see cars of the future equipped with Google's mapping technology.
Comments
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1. Rajeev Dhiman
Very well done Google.
This is why Google is the best in the market. This act further strengthens peoples' trust in Google.
2. John Ray
According to Google "We cannot tolerate websites trying to manipulate search results ...".
Does that apply to China ?
3. Simon Cox
So much for rear wheel drive!
4. jim Doyle
Well, good to see Google sorting out big multi-nationals like BMW and making them play fair. I’m sure it will enhance google’s standing with it’s future partner Volkswagon. What’s next! A deal with the Chinese government to downgrade or filter out all offensive sites with words like Democracy, fairness, equality, civil rights, etc.
5. Martin Lukes
Google has the people's trust. Except if they live in China, obviously.
Funny that Google have started getting all angsty about manipulation of websites, transparency and internet priorities all of a sudden. Must be the haloes choking them. The FT ran a piece at the weekend about the pair who had "always turned thier backs on Wall Street," which must have been fairly difficult to do in the IPO meetings. They probably had Herman Miller swivel chairs though.
6. M James
Hmm ... Google blacklists a major corporation for doing what every other major corporation does, and announces a deal with that company's competitor. Yet another reason I am losing my trust in Google.
7. Mark Evans
Surely the onus is on Google to adapt its system in the background so that isn't so easily abused, rather than on web users to 'obey' Google's rules? The web is a free-for-all - countless sites do the same thing BMW has done - and to pretend that they can enforce 'good behaviour' this way is ludicrous.
To me it's worrying that Google - a company that's already shown willingness to abandon its principles for financial gain in China - can do this. What commercial or strategic needs will interfere with their (sadly abandoned) objectivity next?
8. Travis Hughes
No, this does not apply to China. Google has every right to do what they are doing in China. In order to do business in that country, which is probably the fastest-growing market in the world right now, they have to abide by that country's laws.
Think about it: If Google violated laws in the United States, the US would shut them down, wouldn't they? In order to do business in the US, they have to follow US law; why should this be any different in any other country, including China?
I fully support the Free-Speech movements in the world, however we have to let each nation get to that point on its own. We have no right to force our opinions on them any more than they have that right upon us.
9. Simon Cox
I think, M James, that most major corporations do not use backdoor blackhat methods to improve thier Google rankings. They cannot afford the bad publicity if caught and I have a good idea they would not know where to start either - other than buying in 'expertise'. Most Major Corporations will use the power of Brand management and offline advertising to drive traffic.
10. anonymous
Google Mapping in cars, great as long as it is more acurate than GoogleEarth which informed me that the address I wanted, on a coast road, was actually about 20m out to sea!
11. DLQ
Vorsprung durch technic!
12. anonymous
Google claims that it does not interfere with results on a search. Yeah right! Google is an evil company and will eventually be exposed. I'm staying with yahoo.
13. Harald Fett
Alarming news: "death sentenced by Google". If Google, being the quasi-monopolist of internet search, exerts its influence to bias any companys chance to present themselves on the web, it's probably time to look for a search alternative. Sounds to me like too much power for any one company.