Google Is Rigged. Just Not the Way Trump Thinks It Is.
Skift Take
Google clearly places its own travel businesses front and center in its search results to the detriment of competitors. Google argues that this benefits consumers. If you buy that argument, then you also probably believe that Google always knows best.
President Trump caused a stir last week when he tweeted that Google's search results are "rigged" against him and others, and that Google failed to promote his first address to Congress. He further charged that the power of Google, Facebook, and Twitter represent a "very antitrust situation."
Beyond the poor grammar, Trump's allegations were shot down in many quarters, including by Google, although there are calls by Republicans for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to investigate the search engine for alleged political bias.
In a Google search Friday of "Trump news" — the query he cited before unleashing his Twitter rant — the only search results visible on the first page on desktop were from ABC News, the Washington Post and The Hill, along with three Trump tweets. On the second page were videos from CNN, Fox News, and a Fox News video on YouTube. The next five links were from ABC News (two), CNBC, Fox News, and the Washington Post.
Key Google Travel executives Richard Holden and Rob Torres will speak at Skift Global Forum. Register Now
While partisans on both sides and techies who understand search may debate political bias, one thing that is as clear as bottled water is that Google gives preference to its own products, such as Google Hotels and Google Flights, to the detriment of competitors, and squeezes out travel sites' organic links in favor of paid advertisements.
"We see Google preferencing its own content to the detriment of consumers in
