I was reading an article on Yahoo news titled : Big Brother Britain ‘going to far’

Big Brother Britain is going a step too far, the UK’s Information Commissioner has warned.

Richard Thomas has spoken out against apparent plans for a massive new Government database which could contain every phone call, text message, email and internet search made by each and every one of us.

Mr Thomas said the proposal raises serious concerns about data protection.

the Original story was from ITN : here

If you look at the Yahoo article you will see that I have made the links in the Yahoo snippet bold instead of actual links, but in my opinion a news article should only link to sources that backs up the article or give a little more information, so why add in more links ?, why would Yahoo do this ?

.. ok we know the answer is seo, but why the fuck are they just doing a text find and replace, without any context to the article I mean “Big Brother Britain” linking to results for a Game show, are we going to see one of George Bushes aids linking to results about plants or HIV ??
What yahoo are doing imo is changing the POV of the article, which is a serious issue for privacy and the first link goes to a game show.. when Microsoft buy you I hope they sack the idiots in charge of these areas !

DaveN

Money talks, well it certainly may do at Yahoo. Investors line up for the kill and  any fears about change of  Yahoo ownership are of course allayed with all contenders emphasising maximum shareholder values. Icahn’s proposal to change the Yahoo board may well take flight. Meanwhile, as if  waiting in the wings Microsoft are now in ” it’s good to talk” mode providing the board changes take place.

Google remains quiet in the equation, perhaps quietened after advertising testing and concerns over privacy again.

Will the Yahoo board remain intact ?

Tomorrow will be 13 weeks since Yahoo acquired Indextools, and another week goes by where I have to tell a client that Google Analytic’s is the best fit for them, until Yahoo pulls it’s thumb from it’s arse.. and starts offering the ability of people to trial it again for free..

DaveN

What will Yahoo be worth at the end of all the deals being put on the table by such as Microsoft? Now talks are of a non full buyout from Microsoft who are still pondering the deal. Stockholder values are being maximised it what we are being told, be we have to ask what other motives are driving Yahoo.

We asked this before, but what what will Google do ? It seems both Microsoft and Google are looking at internet advertising collaboration with Yahoo…

I just got this emailed to me and shot over to yahoo answers, not sure if the orginal screen is a fake or not as I can’t reproduce it … but the guy say’s it true..

when I went and did the same search i got the Normal Yahoo ads, I did notice thou when I kept refreshing the 1 - 10 of 159,170 kept jumping around … odd

DaveN

Ok hands up all SEO’s who target only Google? Come on,,, Chances are the search marketing world is set to change, evolve if that’s that right terminology. Some believe that Google is likely to become the next “Microsoft.”

Which is your favourite search engine, or does it vary on a monthly basis? Do you have clients who ask for specific targetting in Live or Yahoo ?

Looks like Yahoo is rolling out technology to protect it’s search users if they click on a dubious website that hosts anything like spyware or spam. Past experiences tells us that such “helpful” additions often confuse the searcher and somewhat tarnish overall usability. Let’s just see if Yahoo can do any better than Google who introduced something similar back in 2006.

Browser exploits are of course nothing new and high risk sites will always be present on the net. However, there is nothing more irritating than some over enthusiastic guidance system that you have to by-pass to get to the website you need.

The Us Justice Department have initiated an investigation into Yahoo and Google’s advertising sharing trial. The two week test, which allows Google to place its adverts alongside 3% of Yahoo’s search results, has been criticized since it was announced. The Department of Justice is looking into whether it violates any antitrust laws.

Although The Justice Department has not made a formal announcement of the investigation, insider sources have said that the trial was being looked at because of a phone call between the two companies CEO’s, in which its alleged that Eric Schmidt (Google CEO) has offered help in thwarting Microsoft’s bid to buy Yahoo.

Another source later said that The DOJ was concerned about an extension to the deal between Yahoo and Google. Microsoft has declined to comment, with many analysts saying that the Yahoo/Google test was set up to stall Microsoft’s merger with Yahoo and so that Google could avoid a competitive threat posed by the merger.

Yahoo and Google seem to think that they are in the clear as they haven’t hidden their intentions from the DOJ, but could be liable for a monopolization inquiry, if it is deemed to have a significant competition avoiding affects.

Yahoo is said to be in the final stages to carry search ads from Google. it’s report that the 2 week test which be limited to around 3% of the US traffic will be part of a test that could lead to a much bigger partnership.
this test is designed for the 2 sides to evaluate the potential revenue.

I really can’t see how this benefits the search industry, but maybe it’s part of a the master plan from Microsoft, I mean Microsoft is a veteran with it’s long-running anti-trust case and are well aware that competitors don’t win anti-trust case, Governments do !

DaveN

Tmobile dump google.  Then they revamp their business tariff whilst starting a potential mobile price war offering unlimited call rates, plus there is the Starbucks deal going on. Not to mention that Microsoft have just bought Danger…and of course are bidding on Yahoo.

The future of search is definately mobile…