So Google News Comments is probably less than a few days old, and I’ve extrapolated how this humble comment system might be the next best thing since sliced bread because of the way that Google is doing it. Yes, not with a little hyperbole did I write this yesterday. Now, no question that there are many unresolved issues, including, of course, the irony that Google built itself a $150B market cap on algorithms and not people-powered stuff — which moderating the comments will necessarily involve — or, how it plans to find a way of actually verifying identification in people, particularly in stories where lots of stakeholders might be involved, or finding a way around litigious issues.
However, this business about walled off gardens is probably *as* premature as the “biggest thing since Jesus” post yesterday, if not more so. Let’s all remember that this Google News Comments is probably in a stage that is so pre-beta it might as well be alpha. Heck, there’s no easy way of even finding them, even if you happen to be on that “limited” list of users that can even view it.
Besides the fact that there are some good self-serving reasons why Google might do this, perhaps we need to let the dust settle to see how this pans out (yours truly included). After all, its hard to get worked up over what Google might or might not let you spider in a service that hasn’t even officially rolled out.
[Yes, we can let the cries of hypocrisy ring throughout the blogosphere if and when Google still blocks spiders (and more) if it rolls out in a proper and organized way (i.e. you can find them), because yes, Google will still index and have access to other news items without letting anyone else "see" them in the same way. On the other hand, I think none of us are still naive to believe that Google "does no evil"].
One Comment
Litigation is not an issue. Under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1995 (the part that WASN’T thrown out by the Supreme Court), internet companies are immune from liability for damage (with the exception of copyright violations) for content posted on their sites that is created by a third party. So Google has nothing to worry about from its commentators, which is why I’m certain that it’s not going to worry too much about moderating them. If anything, it’s verification of identity (assuming that can be done effectively) would make it easier for an injured party to sue the poster directly, thus reducing their incentive to drag Google into a court case that they’re going to lose anyway.