Google’s integration of its social network into search results should...
Google’s integration of its social network into search results should draw FTC scrutiny, the Electronic Privacy Information Center urged the FTC in a letter (http://xrl.us/bmojh2) Thursday. Just as the FTC is investigating Google already for possible anticompetitive violations for favoring…
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its own content and services in search results, it should take note of Google’s new practice of replacing “highly visible advertising space” on the right-hand side with “notable business” and Google Plus users, even for searchers who aren’t Plus users or logged in to Google, the letter said. It noted criticism from experts such as Harvard Business School’s Ben Edelman, who said Google was favoring its own content over “objectively superior” destinations. Edelman has also consulted for Microsoft, which operates the Bing search engine. The change also makes Google users’ personal information more accessible, because users can’t opt out of having their information found by their Plus contacts through Google search, the group said: That’s in contrast to Google letting content owners “remove pages” from public search results. The group copied the letter to leaders of the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee and House IP Subcommittee, which also examines competition issues.