Google AutoLink : No Respect

You'd think Google would have more respect for links. This is the 'don't be evil' company. This is the company that got famous (and rich) because links used to be a recommendation one person made to a lot of others. Of course, their success has led to an internet full of bogus and manufactured links (and pages), but that's a problem I've already discussed.

But now we have Google Toolbar 3.0beta. Here's what Google says about it:

AutoLink: Whenever users see a U.S. address on a web page, one click on AutoLink automatically links the address to an online map. For example, if users are reading a review of a new restaurant, clicking on AutoLink will turn its address into a link to a map, complete with directions. AutoLink also links package tracking numbers to pages displaying that package's delivery status and other useful information, such as Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) and Publication ISBN numbers.

So Google has gone from counting links to adding them to web pages automatically. As Bob Dylan said, 'Sometimes the devil comes as a man of peace'.

The 'net is abuzz with comments and complaints, some thoughts and diatribes, as well as arguments and discussions (plus a thoughtful condemnation).

My view is that users do have the right to modify pages as seen in their browsers (remove ads, ad links, turn the background purple, whatever). But users should have to intentionally and specifically desire/install the feature that makes these changes. Bundling such a feature into an otherwise useful application is how the rest of the scum-lords poisoned our computers. So this isn't the method Google should use.

Make it a stand alone feature with a very clear description of the functionality, add more user control over which links go where, and I think everything would be fine. Bundle it so most people don't even mean to get it, turn it on by default, put some potential links in and leave others out, don't provide ways for users to add new link targets, and don't clearly articulate what you'll be autolinking in the future and what you will not, and we all have ample reason to worry.

For now, if you have a web site and don't want Google putting links on your page that you didn't want there, some fine folks have created scripts to stop Google AutoLink.

Posted by Craig Danuloff at February 27, 2005 4:46 PM