[LINK] Google Re-Direction

[James Pearce]

They've been doing this for a while, in fact I think there was a discussion
on list about it. I've found that google only redirected me the first
several times, after that if I typed in goolge.com I went to that page, and
if I wanted the Australian version I had to type in google.com.au

I've also found the automatic selection is for "the web" and if you wanted
to search Australian sites you had to click "pages from Australia".

I'm waiting for an Australian version of the "news" page....

James

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Clarke" <Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au>
To: <link at anu.edu.au>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 8:51 AM
Subject: [LINK] Google Re-Direction


>
> Has anyone seen a good analysis of the games that Google's been playing?
>
> An attempt to call up:
> http://www.google.com
> results in unannounced re-direction to:
> http://www.google.com.au
> presumably done on the basis of the IP-address.
>
> I was doing a check on progress with my neologism 'dataveillance'
> during the 15 years since I published the foundation paper.
>
> The first attempt turned up only about 500 pages, all Australian.
>
> By going to the 'Advanced Search' option, it appears to revert to the
> main google site, because it offers a couple of thousand links, from
> many more places than just Australia.
>
> The ability to restrict the search-scope to one's own region is a
> service of considerable value.  That aspect is covered by the option
> that appears at the top of the page.
>
> But enforced restriction or re-direction is a serious policy concern,
> because it's a weapon of censorship, surveillance and control.  And
> it's a lot worse if it's done covertly, as this has been.
>
> Is Google going over to the dark side, as Amazon has done?
>
> (I'm not sure what to think just yet, because if you change the
> option to Australia-only, and then back again, you get the full set,
> even from the .au site.  Maybe they've done some changes recently,
> and stuffed them up?  There doesn't appear to be an email-address for
> making reports to googlers, so I haven't tried contacting them).
>
> --
> Roger Clarke              http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/
>
> Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd, 78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
>                  Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
> mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au            http://www.xamax.com.au/
>
> Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program, University of Hong Kong
> Visiting Professor in the Baker Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre, U.N.S.W
> Visiting Fellow in Computer Science, Australian National University
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