Google Search Results Misleading Consumers – You Can Fix It – FTC, DOJ

For the past year Google has surgically removed certain websites. When consumers attempt to find a product or service or information they are given misleading search results by Google.   A disturbing report was received from the Organic Consumers Association that many natural health websites have been removed from Google search results.  They reported that over the past year many of their own articles are completely missing in Google search results. In addition this 501(c)3 nonprofit whose goal is “to protect consumers’ rights to safe, healthful food and other consumer products, a just food and farming system and an environment rich in biodiversity and free of pollutants” finds itself with a fraction of the normal web traffic or visitors due to this problem.

Many consumers look for a natural product by performing a search using the product’s name. Example ” Best Prostate “.  Best Prostate is a registered trademark.  If you search for this registered trademark the first result following the paid advertisements should be: the Official Product Website of Best Prostate or www.BestProstate.com.  When a consumer enters a search term that is a registered trademark a search engine compliant with Federal trademark law should deliver the organic result with the trademarked good or service. To use a search term that is a Federally protected trademark like “Best Prostate”  otherwise constitutes infringement of the Federally registered trademark. This constitutes a violation of 15 U.S. § 1114, and is in violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), as well as common law trademark infringement, unfair competition and trademark dilution.

Several days ago the  U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a press release which included Google and will determine “whether and how market-leading online platforms have achieved market power and are engaging in practices that have reduced competition, stifled innovation or otherwise harmed consumers.”  The DOJ will examine Google’s dominant market position, alleged monopoly in their respective space and any questionable business practices that adversely impact consumers, competitors and other businesses. Google has purchased there way onto every android mobile phone and tablet device.  It is sad that many consumers think Google is an American company – it is, in name only.  When you call Google your call is swiftly transferred to India.  Every call made to Google is outsourced to India.  The opposite occurs with competitors like Microsoft where you are greeted by someone in North America who speak American English.

It is important for consumers to file complaints about these business practices with the FTC and the DOJ.  It is you the consumer that is being lied to and misled.

If you are looking for alternatives to misleading search results with search engines you have a choice.  www.msn.com, www.bing.com, www.yahoo.com . You the consumer have the power to choose and it is your choice that supports American jobs. Or you can support a family in India due to the job that was outsourced to that country by Google.