Google Is Testing Verified Checkmarks In Search

Google is testing a new verification feature in search, in a move aimed at helping users avoid fake or fraudulent websites. The Verge's Jess Weatherbed reports: My colleague Jay Peters spotted checkmarks next to official site links for Microsoft, Meta, Epic Games, Apple, Amazon, and HP, but these were no longer displayed once he logged into a different Google account -- meaning this experiment isn't being rolled out widely just yet. Hovering over a checkmark will display a message that explains "Google's signals suggest that this business is the business that it says it is," which is determined by things like website verification, Merchant Center data, and manual reviews according to Shaheen.

Verifying source is one thing

[Baron_Yam]

What about quality? Have you ever met someone who has found a search result on the Microsoft Community pages that was actually helpful instead of some MS-certified idiot repeating the question asked before providing an irrelevant copypasta answer?

Re:

[Malay2bowman]

I've come to the conclusion that M$ is using a bot for answers and not a particularly good one. The best answers come from other users.

Re:

[Baron_Yam]

I always assumed it was paper MCSEs (or whatever the current name for them is). The answers are frustratingly clueless and go in circles, but not quite like you'd expect from a chat bot.

Or maybe they just have oddly bad chat bots.

How quickly will this get corrupted?

[schwit1]

It will end up like the BBB, pay up to get a checkmark.

Good Idea In Theory

[SmaryJerry]

Good in theory but now Google will have to verify .. the entire internet. Somehow this seems like little guys are going to get screwed, or if Google has something about your site it doesn't like, you will get screwed.

Re:

[alvinrod]

Doesn't really matter if the links are verified or not when their search doesn't return what you were trying to find in the first place. This will only make it worse as the scummiest sites will pay for the verification and of course Google will want to give them more play for their pay. Verified waste of your time is all it will be.

Re:

[Malay2bowman]

"Good in theory but now Google will have to verify .. the entire internet" And I expect the AI to have this level of quality control skills: https://youtube.com/watch?v=b-... [youtube.com]

Copying twitter?

[taustin]

Yeah, that's a good idea. Bound to make their ads more credible.