Google tests out check marks to verify search results – National


Alphabet’s GOOGL.O Google is testing showing check marks next to certain companies on its search results, a company spokesperson said on Friday, in a move aimed at helping users identify verified sources and steer clear of fake websites.

Fraudulent websites impersonating official businesses or services could creep up in online search results, leading users to view false information about the business, deceiving users and potentially harming the brand.

“We regularly experiment with features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google,” the spokesperson said.


Click to play video: 'New study suggests social media feeds source of COVID-19 fake news'


New study suggests social media feeds source of COVID-19 fake news


Google already uses automated systems to identify pages with “scammy” or fraudulent content and prevent them from showing up in the search results.

Story continues below advertisement

The Verge reported the development earlier on Friday, adding that it spotted blue verified checkmarks next to official site links for companies including Microsoft MSFT.O, Meta META.O and Apple AAPL.O on search results.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Only some users were able to see the feature, the Verge said, indicating Google has not rolled out the test widely yet.

–Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber






Source link