{"id":8441,"date":"2015-06-29T11:44:54","date_gmt":"2015-06-29T15:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.nccomputertech.com\/?p=8441"},"modified":"2015-06-29T11:44:54","modified_gmt":"2015-06-29T15:44:54","slug":"google-harms-users-by-favoring-its-own-services-in-search-results-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2015\/06\/29\/google-harms-users-by-favoring-its-own-services-in-search-results-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Google harms users by favoring its own services in search results, study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google\u2019s favoring of its own services in search results doesn\u2019t just harm competitors, it also harms consumers, according to research sponsored by a complainant in the EU antitrust trial against the company.<\/p>\n

The study found that users are 45 percent more likely to click on search results organically generated by Google\u2019s own search engine than on results in which Google favors its own services, as it does now.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis suggests that by leveraging dominance in search to promote its internal content, Google is reducing social welfare\u2014leaving consumers with lower quality results and worse matches,\u201d the researchers found. The study \u201cprovides empirical evidence\u201d that Google favoring its own products in some cases harms Google\u2019s users.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch conduct therefore cannot be described as pro\u00adcompetitive,\u201d said Tim Wu, a professor at Columbia Law School, and Michael Luca, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School.<\/p>\n

Their study was financially supported by Yelp, a site that allows users to review local businesses and one of the complainants fuelling the European Commission\u2019s antitrust investigation into Google\u2019s search practices. Yelp\u2019s data science team also contributed to the research.<\/p>\n

Yelp presented the study during the Antitrust Enforcement Symposium held over the weekend at the University of Oxford in the U.K., a spokeswoman for the university said, and also sent it to the European Commission on Friday. The Commission declined to comment on the study.<\/p>\n

The researchers based their findings on click-surveys of 2,690 users who took part in comparative tests of search result presentation. They showed two versions of search results for local business searches, which according to the study represent roughly one-third of desktop search volume and over one-half of mobile search.<\/p>\n

For local search results, Google currently typically shows a list of seven business pins populated by results from Google\u2019s specialized search services such as Google+ Local and travel in relation to a map, the researchers said. Google calls such blending of results from its own specialized search engines into general search results \u201cuniversal search.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the researchers\u2019 alternative version, a browser plug-in was used to display a map and a list of search results based on Google\u2019s own organic algorithm, including links from third-party review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor.<\/p>\n

The test was meant to determine which version delivered the most relevant information for the content in question. It revealed that 32 percent of users would click on Google\u2019s current local results while 47 percent clicked on the alternative search results. This nearly 50 percent increase in click-through rate is an immense difference in the modern Web industry, the researchers said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoogle appears to be strategically deploying universal search in a way that degrades the product so as to slow and exclude challengers to its dominant search paradigm,\u201d the researchers said.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not all bad, though: There are some instances, such as displaying time or presenting a calculator, where Google favoring its own services does not harm consumers, they found, adding that presenting a calculator on top of a search result page is preferred by users.<\/p>\n

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has always denied that it violates European antitrust rules.<\/p>\n

The Commission opened its antitrust investigation into Google\u2019s search practices in 2010, triggered by complaints from competitors. Google was formally charged with abusing its dominant market position as a search provider in April. The Commission said Google violates European antitrust rules by systematically favoring its own comparison shopping product over competing services, a practice that hurts consumers and stifles competition.<\/p>\n

A redacted version of the charges was sent to Google\u2019s foes earlier this month; they were given four weeks to respond. Meanwhile, Google has still to respond to the Commission\u2019s charges.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Commission has also started an investigation into Google\u2019s bundling of its apps with the Android OS.<\/p>\n

via Google harms users by favoring its own services in search results, study finds | PCWorld<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google\u2019s favoring of its own services in search results doesn\u2019t just harm competitors, it also harms consumers, according to research […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[424,946],"class_list":["post-8441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology","tag-google","tag-search-practices"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/papNkV-2c9","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7946,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2015\/04\/03\/five-percent-of-google-users-have-ad-injectors-installed\/","url_meta":{"origin":8441,"position":0},"title":"Five percent of Google users have ad injectors installed","author":"NCCT","date":"April 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Five percent of people that use Google\u2019s sites and services have at least one ad injector installed on their device according to a recent study conducted by Google in collaboration with researchers from the University of California, Berkeley. Within that group, Google found that half had at least two injectors\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Software"","block_context":{"text":"Software","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/software\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7648,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2015\/02\/26\/chrome-security-update-warns-against-sneaky-software-downloads-as-well-as-malware\/","url_meta":{"origin":8441,"position":1},"title":"Chrome security update warns against sneaky software downloads as well as malware","author":"NCCT","date":"February 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Google is adding a new warning to Chrome in its continuing efforts to protect users from harmful actors on the web. The new red flag for Google\u2019s browser warns you when you\u2019re about to visit a site that encourages users to download harmful and unwanted software. Chrome isn\u2019t the only\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Security"","block_context":{"text":"Security","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/security\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6933,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2014\/11\/21\/google-settles-patent-case-with-microsoft-apple-consortium\/","url_meta":{"origin":8441,"position":2},"title":"Google settles patent case with Microsoft, Apple consortium","author":"NCCT","date":"November 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Google has agreed to settle a dispute with the Rockstar patent consortium, that includes Microsoft and Apple among its members. The legal dispute was related to patents which were, according to Rockstar, infringed upon by Google\u2019s Android OS. Rockstar acquired numerous patents and intellectual property from Nortel, and used those\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","block_context":{"text":"Apple","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/apple\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8923,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2016\/05\/17\/this-botnet-has-infected-nearly-a-million-devices-since-2014\/","url_meta":{"origin":8441,"position":3},"title":"This botnet has infected nearly a million devices since 2014","author":"NCCT","date":"May 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By Shawn Knight | TechSpot One of the many ways that cybercriminals earn income is through affiliate advertising programs like Google\u2019s AdSense. Rather than generate traffic through content creation, hackers figure out ways to trick advertising platforms into thinking a partner is sending them legitimate traffic. Not knowing they're being\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Security"","block_context":{"text":"Security","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/security\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6841,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2014\/11\/14\/mozilla-blasts-at-android-and-ios-for-lack-of-openness\/","url_meta":{"origin":8441,"position":4},"title":"Mozilla blasts at Android and iOS for lack of openness","author":"NCCT","date":"November 14, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Mozilla has accused Google and Apple of not being transparent with their mobile technologies and misusing their dominant positions. Google's Android and Apple's iOS make up for the majority marketshare in smartphone OSes globally and Mozilla has shown concern over the irresponsible behavior of the companies by not being transparent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","block_context":{"text":"Apple","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/apple\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6821,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2014\/11\/13\/mozilla-foundation-celebrates-a-decade-of-firefox-with-new-release\/","url_meta":{"origin":8441,"position":5},"title":"Mozilla Foundation celebrates a decade of Firefox with new release","author":"NCCT","date":"November 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Mozilla\u2019s Firefox web browser turned 10 years old on November 9 and to celebrate the occasion, the foundation is rolling out a handful of new products and programs. Mozilla has released a new version of Firefox that\u2019s said to be faster than ever. 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