Fraud protection: Google experiments with blue checkmarks in search results
Google is currently testing blue checkmarks on certain websites. This should help users to distinguish fraudulent fake websites from their genuine counterparts.
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Google is currently experimenting with a blue tick for certain websites in the search results – to find out whether this is an effective protection against fraudulent fake websites. A spokesperson for the search engine giant has now confirmed this to the tech magazine TheVerge.
The concept has already become established on the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram: they have been using the blue tick for some time, which helps politicians and celebrities, for example, to distinguish their real account from the numerous fake accounts that often exist en masse for their person.
Blue tick known from social media
Certain requirements apply to the blue tick, for example that only professional accounts, such as those of companies and influencers, are allowed to have it. Account holders must verify their identity with the parent company Meta using an official ID document and pay a monthly fee of between 10 and 15 dollars. The offer is currently only available in New Zealand, Australia and the USA. Twitter also has the blue tick, but here the main requirement is a paid subscription – and verification with an ID document is not required.
Google's approach has a similar target group: company websites in particular are to be protected in the future. The first test candidates are apparently Meta, Apple, Epic Games, Amazon, HP and Microsoft, whose websites are not marked with a blue tick in the search results for some Google users – for all –.
Editor noticed the change accidentally
An editor at TheVerge noticed the blue checkmarks for these websites in the search results. When he logged into a different account as a test, they were no longer there. However, Google spokeswoman Molly Shaheen then confirmed their existence.
Google regularly experiments with measures to help users recognize trustworthy providers when shopping online, she told the magazine.
Similar hooks already exist with Gmail
Similar hooks already exist in the Gmail web and smartphone apps. Companies can use them to confirm their identity to the recipients of their emails. The whole thing is part of the so-called Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI).
However, the search engine service has not yet officially announced the blue checkmarks in Google search. The company has also not indicated whether and to whom the checkmarks are currently displayed.
(nen)
