[IP] Google Tricks
------ Forwarded Message
From: Arnt Gulbrandsen <arnt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 13:42:41 +0100
To: <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [IP] Google Tricks
For IP, if you wish.
TIME Magazine writes:
> Look out, surfers: there's a wave of controversy headed your way over
> the latest version of the Google Toolbar, a popular Web browser
> add-on that attaches a search box and an extra row of buttons onto
> Internet Explorer. The new version (available at google.com) includes
> a feature called AutoLink, which can transform plain text on any Web
> page into a link that sends users to a related site for more
> information.
One deplorable consquence is that sites may choose to make their
disclaimers stronger.
A lot of sites run disclaimers saying that they have no control over
links to external sites. The BBC springs to mind. If you look at e.g.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4310453.stm, you'll see that the
external links are located in a box by themselves, with a disclaimer.
With Autolink, text anywhere on the page can turn into links the BBC
wouldn't want to be responsible for. Google's argument that it's user
choice doesn't hold: few pupils have control over the software
installed on school PCs, for example.
(Btw, is it true that the feature can also change the targets of
existing links, even links to the same site?)
Arnt
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