Google Is Changing Its Page-Ranking System

It seems that Google is going to change how it ranks pages. Instead of just ranking pages by the number of links, it is also going to consider whether the page offers truthful or misleading information. The pages that offer lies, or other misleading information, will be pushed further down the page -- and the sites offering factual information will be moved up, making it easier for searchers to get to the truth. I think this is a good move. What do you think?

Here is how Frank Minero at Addicting Info describes the impending change:

Google is working on a new way of ranking web pages. Republicans, notorious for spreading lies to further their political agenda, are sure to hate Google’s new search. It ranks web pages based on facts. That’s right, it ranks web pages higher on the search engine result page based on how truthful they are!

The primary influencing factor in Google’s current search technology is the number of incoming links a website receives. Each incoming link counts as a vote for the website’s credibility. Google places websites with the most votes toward the top of the search results page.

This ranking system has its faults. One striking disadvantage is that it allows websites containing misinformation to reach the top of the results page. In this case, Google’s goal, to provide its user with the most accurate and relevant information, has failed.

According to New Scientist, the new ranking system would tap into an expansive library of facts called the Knowledge Vault. Web pages that spew misinformation, contrary to these generally accepted facts, appear further down on the search results page.

Imagine a Google search that delivers someone questioning Obama’s birthplace to web pages debunking birtherism, climate change deniers to factual scientific data and arguments, anti-vaxxers to web pages that offer credible information about vaccines. Web pages that misinform would be pushed to the bottom of Google search results as they are not based in fact. That’s the new search!

If and when the new search is released, the reaction from Republicans and their ministry of propaganda, Fox News, is sure to be priceless. Web pages selling manufactured talking points and conspiracy theories about Benghazi, Obama’s place of birth and the Affordable Care Act will plummet in Google. Factual information debunking right-wing lies will take its place. Right wing nut jobs will surely label Google as “liberal search” and develop their own ‘conservative approved’ search aka propaganda engine.

The implications are far-reaching. The new search wouldn’t only effect peddlers of political propaganda. Quacks like Dr. Oz will have trouble selling snake oil. Conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones will have a harder time connecting with the gullible. Any commercial, governmental or religious power attempting to manipulate the public through false information will be delivered a swift kick to the family jewels.

The new Google would save those who lack common sense the misfortune of happening upon, consuming, then regurgitating misinformation as fact. It would save the rest of us from having to hear about it… and who knows. A society more in tune with factual information might even be a more pleasant place to live.

Google Tries To Do Right, But Court Says No

Google is one of the largest and most powerful internet companies, and because of that they get a lot of criticism from many people -- and some of that criticism is undoubtably deserved. But in a recent court fight, they were definitely on the right side. Believe it or not, they were trying to protect the privacy and constitutional rights of their customers.

Back during the Bush administration, the United States Congress made one of its worst decisions ever. They passed the Patriot Act. One of the many odious provisions of that law allows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to get any information they want on any person (American citizen or not) by simply issuing a "national security letter" to any telecommunications company. They issue these letters in-house, and it does not require the signature of any judge. In short, as long as the FBI claims it is a matter of "national security" they can get access to any information without any kind of warrant (and without any showing of probable cause).

This is clearly unconstitutional, since that document requires the government to show probable cause and get a warrant from a judge before it can seize any private or personal information from or about a citizen. But Congress was stupid enough to pass the Patriot Act, and the FBI (under both Bush and Obama) has used the law many times for warrantless searches. Back in 2007, the Justice Department's Inspector General said the FBI had committed widespread violations in their use of the "national security letters", and the FBI promised to tighten oversight of the system. But it is unknown whether they have stopped those violations (since the letters are issued in secret). I suspect they haven't though.

Recently they issued 19 of those letters for Google. But Google refused to cooperate. Unfortunately, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston sided with the FBI. She has ruled that Google must comply and turn over the information requested to the FBI, in spite of the fact that the FBI did not request or receive a warrant. This is very disappointing. Google was acting appropriately in trying to keep their customer's information secret. I hope they appeal this decision.

There is no reason why the FBI, and any other policing organization, cannot get a legal warrant if they have probable cause to believe a crime is being, or has been, committed. If they don't have probable cause, then they should not be able to get the information -- because they are just on a "fishing expedition", which is exactly the sort of thing the men who approved the Constitution were trying to prevent.

The Patriot Act is the biggest invasion of rights we have ever seen in this country. That odious law needs to be overturned -- either by the courts or by Congress.