I don't think government regulation is in order, as the question becomes, who will govern it. Yes the company is based in the U.S., but its business affects the whole world. So in essence the same argument that one makes as far as its power over commerce can be made for any person and country in the world. What Google should do, is to add a division that allows webmasters and site owners the ability to communicate and plead their care case to. Adsense and all other divisions have their support, but in the sector that made them what they are, you can't even find an email of a person that can review your site to see if you were wrongly penalized or banned. To me thats ridiculous and an abuse of power. If anything, they should should learn to de-value the actions of blackhat seo and link scams. They shouldn't ban a site completely. They should let the sites prove themselves on the SERPs and just de-value and wrongful SEO actions. They may not have the technology for this yet, but they should suck it up till then. Maybe in the future, a WIPO or ICANN type of organization can step in, however, if they would just give site owners and webmaster the opportunity to be heard, this wouldn't be an issue.
Baidu does not list my site. I think I will sue because without the Chinese market my business will fail. They will owe me millions. And the Chinese government must defend me. They must pass regulations saying that Baidu must list my site. And my site should be the first site listed because I sued first. And since I have no money for advertising, Baidu must put my site site before any paid ads, to to make things fair because it is not fair that someone goes before me. Sound ridiculous? /*tom*/
You guys are missing the point. Its not about getting listed or getting first place in serps. Its about Google treating webmasters fairly and equitably, instead of of having to endure monopolisitic corporate whims taht destroy businesses.
Interesting question. I think that because the whole internet (as we know it) is relatively new, the internet companies that are still around today, and have grown to become giants, are so because they built there internet business up with moral intentions, and never really crossed any lines, and so they never drew much attention from Government regulators. But to say they make there own rules and are not regulated is wrong. Every legitimate business is regulated, if it makes a profit, then it has to follow rules. When you search Google and see (separate from the free results) the "Sponsored Links" sign on the right hand side. who do you think made them stick that there? My guess would be that it was not self regulation or high moral standards that made them put it there. As for the "free results" well.. if they want to remove a site, then thats up to them. I don't think they would remove one for no real reason. If the only money the business is making comes from the website, then chances are, Google, in some way got them to where they were before they took it back off them. I mean, If someone said "I will advertise your business for free for as long as you want, But you must abide by my simple rules". and you agree. then disobey those rules, and the person stops giving you free advertising. Then how is it there fault? How can they be held responsible? Huh?.. I live in Australia, and I do not know of any Australian rules or regulations that were thrust upon us by any other country. The fact is that countries make there own rules. However... some countries, like to blame other countries, for bad decisions that they themselves have made. The World wide web.. Great name for it aye! Out of all the thousands of dollars I have given to US based companies, either as a donation or in exchange for goods and/or services. not once has any of them ever told me that they did not want my money, and that I should keep it in my own country. Just sharing my opinion Cheers James
Agreed. And, sometimes things are better left the way they are. But actions should be taken if the mass public deems that "something" is causing problem for the public.
Google shouldn't be liable to do anything. How would you feel if your website got told what it was supposed to do? Or, if because you changed one algorithm, you get sued up the ass? It's your database, you pay for the servers, etc.
Although Google might present itself two faces to the world, I still think the world is not stupid. Sooner or later they will figure out and abandon the monster. Just the fact that this topic is being discussed here, gives me the idea that people are becoming aware of google's monopolistic power and are seeking ways to loose dependency.