Google's iOS app manipulates web content – without opt-in

Google is causing a stir with a casually announced innovation in the iOS app: The browser integrated into the search engine's iPhone and iPad app automatically displays links on third-party websites that always lead back to Google services. In a screenshot published by Google, the in-app browser automatically marks the text "Osaka Castle" as a link; tapping on it leads to the corresponding entry in Google Maps. There you can find offers from which Google usually earns money, such as hotel bookings or ticket sales.

Google links to places, people and things

In this way, users receive additional information from Google's Knowledge Graph, explained a community manager of the company in a support entry. Such Google links are to be smuggled in to landmarks, places, people and things.

– According to the screenshot, the automatically placed links are not specially marked, but they do at least appear to differ from other – links placed by the website operator. In Germany, the example shown by Google could not be reproduced on an iPhone used by the Mac & i editorial team, where no automated link to "Osaka Castle" appeared. The function might have so far only been implemented in other regions.

Control over the unwanted link – Google calls the function "Page Annotations" – apparently neither users nor website providers have control. For the latter, the search engine operator only offers the option of subsequently requesting an opt-out. Whether there are plans to give websites a share of the revenue generated via such links remains open – nothing of the sort has been announced.

Google under the regulator's magnifying glass

The timing of the introduction of such a function is surprising: as a gatekeeper, Google is already being closely monitored in the EU and recently removed a Google Maps view integrated into search results with hotel booking options – on a trial basis following complaints from competitors. To break Google's monopoly position in search engines, the US Department of Justice recently proposed spinning off the Chrome browser. In addition, Google should be prohibited from making payments worth billions to other browser manufacturers so that they can set Google as the default search engine – like Apple's Safari or Mozilla's Firefox.

(lbe)