computerwoche.de

Archiv

Judge includes sponsored Google results in Chevron gag order

30.10.2008
in the Bowoto v. Chevron case, claiming that the sponsored link to Chevron's Web site for the case is the same as a statement to the press. The link, which appeared in Google search results for the plaintiff's name, led to a giving their side of the incident that led to the suit, where the company called in the Nigerian police when villagers took over an offshore oil platform. Three villagers were injured, and another was killed.

When Chevron pointed out that the majority of the top search results were sites favorable to the plaintiff, the judge responded that the links' placements were not the result of sponsorship by any of the parties involved in the suit. Of course, went out on October 24 detailing the company's side and providing links to the site.

The sponsored link appeared any time the plaintiff's name was searched (Larry Bowoto) and since the judge's order, no sponsored links appear for the search terms Bowoto or Larry Bowoto at all. Of the first ten results, nine are either sites favoring Bowoto's side or linked images, with the tenth result from a blog called "Nigeria Security Update."