From sethf at sethf.com  Thu Apr 22 06:46:46 2004
From: sethf at sethf.com (Seth Finkelstein)
Date: Thu Apr 22 05:53:47 2004
Subject: IT: "Jew Watch", Google, and Search Engine Optimization
Message-ID: <20040422104646.GA27252@sethf.com>

[The "Jew Watch" hate-site has been in the news for the past few
weeks, as having been the number-one site in a Google search for "Jew".
I suspect there will be a second round of stories in the near future.
The site lost its hosting last week for a while, and had dropped in
ranking. But as I write this, it's back both at a new host, and at the
number-one search spot again.]

This resurgence in ranking is completely predictable by the way, as a
a delayed effect from all the links it received from the recent
controversy. It takes a while for such effects to be felt, due to
delays in processing new information into Google's ranking algorithm.]

New report from Seth Finkelstein:

"Jew Watch", Google, and Search Engine Optimization
http://sethf.com/anticensorware/google/jew-watch.php

Abstract: This report examines issues surrounding the high ranking of
an anti-semitic website, "JewWatch.com" for searches on the word
"Jew". The search results present complex issues of unintended
consequences and social dilemmas.

-- 
Seth Finkelstein  Consulting Programmer  sethf@sethf.com  http://sethf.com
Interview: http://grep.law.harvard.edu/article.pl?sid=03/12/16/0526234
Seth Finkelstein's Infothought blog - http://sethf.com/infothought/blog/