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Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

torrentfreak.com

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Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#161
post #124

I remember I used to do filetype searches for mp3, mp4, flac, etc... and get all sorts of good stuff. I would find ftp servers with thousands of songs and just download anything interesting. I feel like the Google search algorithm peaked many years ago and has gradually been neutered by all sorts of special interest groups who have no doubt harassed Google with legal threats. Google probably doesn't want to censor re…

I still do this and yeah, it's harder to find interesting stuff. I mostly do it now just for curiosity's sake.

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#162
post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can Google be sure? They can't, so they can't do it

If they cannot determine which site is legal then they should not be playing with sites' ranks.

They are the owners of the ranking algorithm, they should do whatever they want that's not in itself illegal.

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#163
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A real solution would be to employ competent humans rather than build and rely on incompetent algorithms.

As much as I’m against algorithms on closed platforms and walled gardens, I believe algorithms are the way to go on the open web, especially since the amount of content there can be infinite.

If we ever manage to kill off advertising as the dominant business on the web, the problem will become orders of magnitude easier. The web today is one large spamfest.

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That opens the thumbnail of the image, not the image itself.

You must be right-clicking the thumbnail in the image search list. Instead, first left-click the thumbnail to open the larger image preview. Then right-click the large preview image and select "open image in new tab". You will get the full image. If anyone has an example where this doesn't work, I'd be curious to see it. It works every time for me.

>Instead, first left-click the thumbnail to open the larger image preview. Then right-click the large preview image and select "open image in new tab". You will get the full image.

Works only for some sites. If the large preview is a stretched thumbnail of that picture, then "open image in new tab" will not get you the full image but the thumbnail.

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#165
post #124

I remember I used to do filetype searches for mp3, mp4, flac, etc... and get all sorts of good stuff. I would find ftp servers with thousands of songs and just download anything interesting. I feel like the Google search algorithm peaked many years ago and has gradually been neutered by all sorts of special interest groups who have no doubt harassed Google with legal threats. Google probably doesn't want to censor re…

Google probably doesn't want to censor results the way they have been forced to. From what I've seen, there is a large contingent of Google who doesn't want to provide unfettered access to information. Rather, this contingent wants to socially engineer everyone for the better using their power.

Source?

Wouldn't these people need to be specifically from the search team, and not Google in general (which would have almost no control over search)

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#166
post #126
post #124

I remember I used to do filetype searches for mp3, mp4, flac, etc... and get all sorts of good stuff. I would find ftp servers with thousands of songs and just download anything interesting. I feel like the Google search algorithm peaked many years ago and has gradually been neutered by all sorts of special interest groups who have no doubt harassed Google with legal threats. Google probably doesn't want to censor re…

It would be funny to see bing finally reach google search quality not because it got better, but because google got worse.

It is already better for video search. I don't remember Google video search being that good.

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#167
post #124

I remember I used to do filetype searches for mp3, mp4, flac, etc... and get all sorts of good stuff. I would find ftp servers with thousands of songs and just download anything interesting. I feel like the Google search algorithm peaked many years ago and has gradually been neutered by all sorts of special interest groups who have no doubt harassed Google with legal threats. Google probably doesn't want to censor re…

Google probably doesn't want to censor results the way they have been forced to. From what I've seen, there is a large contingent of Google who doesn't want to provide unfettered access to information. Rather, this contingent wants to socially engineer everyone for the better using their power.

Google would've fought back much more -- as it has in the past -- if it wouldn't have gotten into the "content business."

That's really the main leverage studios have over Google right now: "either remove the stuff we tell you or you'll no longer get access to the content you want from us."

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that MPAA's board seat on the W3C was sponsored by Google (and Netflix, maybe Microsoft, and a few others).

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#168
post #115

I would prefer that Google would add labels like "pirate site" or "legitimate copy". How can a normal user understand what kind of site they are visiting and whether the site has a legal copy of a movie? The copyright agreements are not public. For example, there is a website that allows to watch Japanese TV from abroad (quite expensive by the way). How one can be sure that they are not paying to scammers?

How can Google be sure? They can't, so they can't do it

At least they can put a label like "This site has an agreement with XYZ Music" or "This site received 1000 takedown notices in last year".

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#169

I would prefer that Google would add labels like "pirate site" or "legitimate copy". How can a normal user understand what kind of site they are visiting and whether the site has a legal copy of a movie? The copyright agreements are not public. For example, there is a website that allows to watch Japanese TV from abroad (quite expensive by the way). How one can be sure that they are not paying to scammers?

They already do. If I search for a movie or tv show on Google from my iPhone, the top results are direct links to YouTube, iTunes, Starz, Prime Video, Hulu, Vudu, Netflix and Google Play Video.

Re: Google Downranks 65,000 Pirate Sites in Search Results

#170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google probably doesn't want to censor results the way they have been forced to. From what I've seen, there is a large contingent of Google who doesn't want to provide unfettered access to information. Rather, this contingent wants to socially engineer everyone for the better using their power.

Source? Wouldn't these people need to be specifically from the search team, and not Google in general (which would have almost no control over search)

Google keeps on demoting sites in search for doing certain things. In the past, this has largely been good. This stance against piracy and the stance that YouTube has taken against the principles of free speech mark a trajectory I find disturbing.
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