Google: Manipulating Search Engine Results

Finally, Google has admitted to doing what critics have claimed all along. The company manipulates search engine results based upon editorial criteria.

For years Google has claimed that its search engine results were totally impartial and 'computer-generated.'

According to Andrew Orlowsk at 'The Register,' Google's objectivity is giving way to admitted deference to arbitrary, editorial decisions based upon the views of a special unit the company has set up to determine content priority in its search engine results.

And thus,

Google is moving into new territory: not only making arbitrary, editorial choices - really no different to Fox News, say, or any other media organization. It's now in the business of validating and manufacturing consent: not only reporting what people say, but how you should think.

Google has further admitted that when it comes to page rank, some 'votes' (clicks) are worth more than others...meaning, of course, Google is now going to weight votes based upon how relevant or 'worthy' a story or post on a blog may be.

The problem with all of this is that in the anticipated demise of print media, news organizations are increasingly relying on Google for stories that they simply rewrite and post on their websites.

Google will thus be the centralized power through which all news, stories, and opinion will pass.