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Interesting point about reordering search results to favor known-legit content distribution channels...roughly: "Can we get Google to put Netflix above TPB in search results?"

If this is still a terrible idea, it's not an obviously terrible one.



It's terrible in that a lot of the times smaller organic sites are much more relevant than big-box "trusted" sites. That's why organic search algorithms are good.

Furthermore, there's a terrible burden for startups moving into certain spaces if suddenly you can't get ranked because you're not a Trusted source.

Plus, controlling search engine neutrality or listing position is not the business of the government or rightsholder. Remember, Google is a private entity.


So instead of framing it in terms of "promoting known-legit" sites, what about "demote known-sketchy" sites?

Does that help your concerns about effects on unknowns, startups, etc? All the non-sketchy results should still be organically ranked, right?


Altering results (other than to show you the most relevant pages) ruins Google's perceived neutrality. All of a sudden Google becomes liable for showing you something they shouldn't, instead of being a neutral third-party.




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