Google announced new verification methods for information on its Search platform on Tuesday. The company is introducing two new tools, “Perspectives” and “About this author,” as well as expanding existing tools like “About this result.”
“Perspectives” will display a carousel beneath Top Stories, displaying perspectives from a variety of journalists, experts, and other relevant voices on the subject of your search.
The feature’s goal is to provide users with a variety of credible opinions on a news topic, allowing them to broaden their understanding of the subject.
Aside from that, we’re getting an all-new “about this author” feature that will allow you to quickly learn more about the author of any content you’re currently reading. This is an extension of what is currently available.
This is an extension of the current “About this result” feature, which was introduced in 2021.
Following this update, everyone will see three dots next to the majority of Google Search results to get more information about where the information is coming from and how Google determines whether the information is useful for a given query.
As part of this update, will make it easier to access the “About this page” section. According to the company, these new features will be available to everyone worldwide on mobile and desktop in the coming days.
On Wednesday, a tribunal court in India overturned four of ten directives in an antitrust case involving the abuse of the company’s dominant position in Android, including the requirement to allow hosting of third-party app stores within Play Store and restricting user uninstallation of pre-installed apps.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal upheld the $161 million penalty imposed on Google by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), saying the earlier decision was “not in violation of the principles of natural justice,” but provided some relief to the Android maker.
Google Market
In terms of users, India is Google’s largest market. According to research firm Counterpoint, the Android operating system powers 97% of the country’s 600 million smartphones.
The CCI’s decision required Google to make a number of changes to its business practices, which many analysts argued could destabilize the company’s global operations.
Announced a $10 billion investment in the South Asian market in 2020. It has already made up to $5.5 billion in investments in local telecom behemoths Jio Platforms and Airtel.
“We are grateful for the opportunity given by the NCLAT to make our case. We are reviewing the order and evaluating our legal options,” a Google spokesperson said of today’s verdict in a statement.
The CCI also ordered not to deny OEMs, developers, and competitors access to Play Services APIs, and not to limit app developers’ ability to distribute their apps via side-loading. The NCLAT, which stated that these four directions were “unsustainable,” also set aside these two directions.
Google had argued that the CCI’s order had “confirmation bias” and was too similar to a 2018 European Commission decision.
The company also contended that it’s dominance in the smartphone market did not demonstrate that it was abusing its power.
The CCI had ordered Google to stop forcing smartphone manufacturers to include so many apps by default on their devices.
It also requested that the company allow users to remove apps, use third-party billing options on the Play Store, and change their search engine if they so desire. Despite appealing the order, they agreed to make several changes to its business practices.
According to the company, smartphone vendors in India will be able to license individual apps for pre-installation on their Android-powered devices.
Customers will also be able to change their search engine and use third-party billing options for app and game purchases on the Play Store, according to the company.
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