Today internet workers protested outside Google Mumbai. Google’s recent algorithm change (called Penguin) has created widespread unemployment in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. The Penguin update effected low quality SEO/link building services, much of which was being outsourced by the US. It is estimated that 80% of the worlds link building was carried out in India, many of the top SEO firms in the UK and Europe outsourcing work here. They are now having to change the way they work and find new solutions, many not having the knowledge themselves.
One US Digital Marketing agency stated:
“90% of our business was outsourced to India, we assumed they had the knowledge to keep Google happy but we were wrong”
One Indian ‘SEO Expert’, Steve Patel, used to work 15 hour per day ‘spinning’ content and uploading it to a large network of sites for US/UK clients. His youngest son, Ashwad (6yrs), had also been taught how to link build. ”Ashwad was getting very good on programmes like Xrummer, but now his future is in jeopardy”
Matt Cutts (head of Google webspam team) is expected to address the angry crowds tomorrow via video link from Google HQ. He is expected to offer them support and ask them to watch some of his Webmaster Tools videos on how to link build the Google way.
“If you see a funny picture post it on your blog…you can get a lot of links very quickly”
Google’s New Policy is Very UnGoogle
Google’s new privacy policy has just come into effect, and caused quite a bit of fuss in the process. Online privacy has become a hot topic lately, so it was inevitable that any changes Google made to how it treats user data would come under the microscope.
If you look closely enough, you’ll see that Google’s new policy is actually very unGoogle.
What’s the new policy?
On the face of it, the policy is innocuous enough. Google says they are merely amalgamating their 60 or so individual privacy policies (one for each product) into one simplified, streamlined policy that covers all of their properties: from the search engine to YouTube via Gmail and AdWords.
However, this amalgamation also means that they can now trade data between these products in a way they’ve previously been unable to. Most controversially, they can now feed more data into the AdWords and AdSense packages that comprise 97% of Google’s revenue.
Why is it UnGoogle?
Although to a certain extent the trade off between data and free services has always been made clear, the new privacy policy is actually very opaque.
On the eve of the policy coming into effect, French regulators CNIL, on behalf of the EU, declared the policy to be “unlawful” as well as calling it unfair. The reason being that the policy doesn’t go into enough detail about what data the company will collect on its users, and how that will be shared amongst its various products.
And although users are given the option of opting out of data tracking (see below), this is arguably not made sufficiently clear, or instructions on how to do so given sufficient prominence.
The EU statement also pointed out that given the lack of information in the policy on what data will be collected and how, Google’s actual practices come into question. By not providing enough information, we are left to only guess at what goes on behind the scenes, which may involve further contravention of European data protection legislation.
Given that Google has managed to climb its way to official Web Overlord status without too many eyelids being batted thanks to a benign reputation, this shadiness over data protection and privacy is alarming. The company’s famed motto – “don’t be evil” is looking a little smudged these days; as is its reputation for being a champion of openness and transparency online – key to the brand’s success.
This blurring of privacy lines could be incredibly damaging for Google. Following the announcement of the new policy, and in the wake of numerous anti-trust suits brought against the company in both Europe and America over privacy issues related to Google’s data collection for its Street View service, Microsoft have launched a hard hitting ad campaign openly criticising Google on privacy issues in a bid to win users over to Bing.
What can you do about it?
You can opt out of data tracking. From your Google account, go to www.google.com/history and hit ‘pause’. If your only option is ‘turn on web history’ you’re already in the clear.
However, unlike the new privacy policy, this doesn’t cover you for every Google product. You may also wish to switch off viewing history in YouTube and opt out of personalised adverts .
It should be noted that these are strictly opt out and only apparent to those determined to look for them.
What do you think? Is Google’s new policy UnGoogle? Is it time to switch to Bing?
If you look closely enough, you’ll see that Google’s new policy is actually very unGoogle.
What’s the new policy?
On the face of it, the policy is innocuous enough. Google says they are merely amalgamating their 60 or so individual privacy policies (one for each product) into one simplified, streamlined policy that covers all of their properties: from the search engine to YouTube via Gmail and AdWords.
However, this amalgamation also means that they can now trade data between these products in a way they’ve previously been unable to. Most controversially, they can now feed more data into the AdWords and AdSense packages that comprise 97% of Google’s revenue.
Why is it UnGoogle?
Although to a certain extent the trade off between data and free services has always been made clear, the new privacy policy is actually very opaque.
On the eve of the policy coming into effect, French regulators CNIL, on behalf of the EU, declared the policy to be “unlawful” as well as calling it unfair. The reason being that the policy doesn’t go into enough detail about what data the company will collect on its users, and how that will be shared amongst its various products.
And although users are given the option of opting out of data tracking (see below), this is arguably not made sufficiently clear, or instructions on how to do so given sufficient prominence.
The EU statement also pointed out that given the lack of information in the policy on what data will be collected and how, Google’s actual practices come into question. By not providing enough information, we are left to only guess at what goes on behind the scenes, which may involve further contravention of European data protection legislation.
Given that Google has managed to climb its way to official Web Overlord status without too many eyelids being batted thanks to a benign reputation, this shadiness over data protection and privacy is alarming. The company’s famed motto – “don’t be evil” is looking a little smudged these days; as is its reputation for being a champion of openness and transparency online – key to the brand’s success.
This blurring of privacy lines could be incredibly damaging for Google. Following the announcement of the new policy, and in the wake of numerous anti-trust suits brought against the company in both Europe and America over privacy issues related to Google’s data collection for its Street View service, Microsoft have launched a hard hitting ad campaign openly criticising Google on privacy issues in a bid to win users over to Bing.
What can you do about it?
You can opt out of data tracking. From your Google account, go to www.google.com/history and hit ‘pause’. If your only option is ‘turn on web history’ you’re already in the clear.
However, unlike the new privacy policy, this doesn’t cover you for every Google product. You may also wish to switch off viewing history in YouTube and opt out of personalised adverts .
It should be noted that these are strictly opt out and only apparent to those determined to look for them.
What do you think? Is Google’s new policy UnGoogle? Is it time to switch to Bing?
Google's change in search algorithm has always been a nightmare for the SEOs around the world. A change in their policy and algorithm and all your previous works goes to trash. For a SEO its very important to stay up to date with Google's updates. But anyways it has always happened for our own good, so that we keep getting best results for our search.
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