ACCC launches legal action against Google for sponsored links on search results

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has now launched legal actions against the search engine giant Google.

They are claiming that the search engine company misleads the web users by placing paid for links along with search results.

They are demanding that Google stop publishing search results that does not specifically distinguish between the search results and the paid for advertisements.

The ACCC said in its statement: “The ACCC is alleging that Google, by failing to adequately distinguish sponsored links from ‘organic’ search results, has engaged in and continues to engage in misleading and deceptive conduct.”

Shara Evans, the head of IT consultancy Market Clarity said that this case could have major implications if the courts end up deciding that the search engine company would have to monitor everything that the advertisers put up as their listing on their search engine results.

She said: “What would have a real impact is if Google had to take a policing role into the content of the advertisers; that, I think, would send real shudders down the industry.”

Google Australia has responded to this latest legal hassle in a statement: “Google Australia believes that these claims are without merit and we will defend against them vigorously.”