With Google changing the formatting of it's search results, paid placement/advertisements are now more indistinguishable from organic results than ever.

Could such intentional confusion be considered "deceptive"?

What does the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have to say?

And how might any such deception affect advertisers (including law firms)?

Was "Don't Be Evil" deceptive? A question apparently worth asking...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/3Eu5S08PSqc

#Google #Search #FTC

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Discussed in this episode:

"Google’s ads just look like search results now"

The Verge - January 23, 2020 - Jon Porter (@JonPorty)

https://www.theverge.com/tldr/2020/1/23/21078343/google-ad-desktop-design-change-favicon-icon-ftc-guidelines

".com Disclosures"

Federal Trade Commission - March 2013

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/press-releases/ftc-staff-revises-online-advertising-disclosure-guidelines/130312dotcomdisclosures.pdf

"Re: Complaint Requesting Investigation of Various Internet Search Engine Companies for Paid Placement and Paid Inclusion Programs"

FTC Guidance Letter - June 27, 2002

https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/closing_letters/commercial-alert-response-letter/commercialalertletter.pdf

"FTC Consumer Protection Staff Updates Agency's Guidance to Search Engine Industry on the Need to Distinguish Between Advertisements and Search Results"

FTC Blog Post - June 25, 2013

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2013/06/ftc-consumer-protection-staff-updates-agencys-guidance-search

"The FTC’s Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking"

FTC Guidance - Updated September 2017

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking

"Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct"

https://courts.michigan.gov/Courts/MichiganSupremeCourt/rules/Documents/Michigan%20Rules%20of%20Professional%20Conduct.pdf

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FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/