Alphabet Inc’s Google is testing showing check marks next to certain companies in its search results, a company spokesman said on Friday, in a move aimed at helping users identify verified sources and stay away from fake sites.
Fraudulent websites impersonating official companies or services can appear in online search results, prompting users to display false information about the company, deceiving users and potentially damaging the brand.
“We regularly pilot features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we’re currently running a small trial that shows check marks next to certain businesses on Google,” the spokesperson said.
Google already uses automated systems to identify pages containing “deceptive” or fraudulent content and prevent them from appearing in search results.
The Verge reported the development earlier on Friday, adding that it had spotted blue verified checkmarks next to links to the official websites of companies including Microsoft MSFT.O, Meta META.O and Apple AAPL.O in search results.
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The Verge said that only some users were able to see the feature, indicating that Google has not rolled out the test widely yet.
– Prepared by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Edited by Shailesh Kuber
