this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2023
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Technology

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How Google Alters Search Queries to Get at Your Wallet - WIRED (www.wired.com)
submitted 1 year ago by ijeff@lemdro.id to c/technology@beehaw.org
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cross-posted from !google@lemdro.id

  • Google may be altering billions of search queries daily to generate results that increase purchases.
  • Testimony in an antitrust case revealed an internal Google slide about changes to its search algorithm, involving "semantic matching" to generate more commercial results.
  • Google covertly changes user queries, substituting them with ones that generate more revenue for the company and display shopping-oriented results.
  • This manipulation benefits Google's profits but harms search quality and raises advertiser costs.
  • Despite legal challenges, Google's market dominance allows it to continue these practices, impacting users' ability to access unbiased information.
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[–] eumesmo@lemmings.world 2 points 1 year ago

It would be nice if we could choose our bias. Sometimes, we might want it biased towards scientific sources, sometimes, towards user-generated content, sometimes towards institutional sites, etc.