Google Calls for Establishment of Search Industry Standards, Denies Manual Interference with Results

Apart from China, a universal specification has been adopted by search engines around the world to ensure fairness. Now that China has developed to a certain extent and search engines have already had a certain impact on life, it is time to establish a better industry standard.

According to a report released at 4:00 am on April 10th by NetEase Technology, Jun Liu, Vice President of Google China Engineering Institute, stated today to NetEase (company library forum) Technology that he called for the establishment of industry standards in the search engine industry as soon as possible to increase users' trust in searches.

Jun Liu made the above statement in response to Google's manual intervention in search results. Recently, Google China received this accusation and it triggered widespread attention within the industry. Jun Liu emphasized that Google China's approach was consistent with the US headquarters. As the head of the R&D department, he guaranteed that Google has never manually interfered with search results. However, due to the rapid update speed of information on the Internet, different results may be produced for the same keyword at different times. Jun Liu believed this was a normal situation. Meanwhile, he also called for manufacturers in the search field to cooperate and establish industry standards as soon as possible to provide more comprehensive services to netizens.

NetEase Technology: What was your first reaction after hearing about Google's alleged manual interference in search results?

Jun Liu: I think we should strengthen our communication with the media. Not interfering with search results is something we have always been proud of. This is the purpose of our founders when they created this company. Fairness must be placed first. Every time we discuss what kind of product, we do not start by talking about how much money this product line can make. We always consider whether users need this thing, and we have always done so. Perhaps some people still do not fully understand us, which is something we deeply regret.

So far, I can see that apart from China, search engines around the world have adopted a universal specification to ensure fairness. Now that China has developed to a certain extent and search engines have already had a certain impact on life, it is time to establish a better industry standard.

NetEase Technology: After hearing these matters, did you hold a meeting with the personnel of the Google Research Institute to discuss this issue? Or did you internally coldly handle this matter after hearing the news?

Jun Liu: We have always been doing this, and this is one of the areas where we are doing very well. So after hearing this news, the first thing I immediately wanted to do was to communicate with the media and users.

NetEase Technology: You just mentioned that the fairness of search engines is something Google takes pride in. How do you think such rumors will affect or harm Google China?

Jun Liu: Even if there is any harm, if we can communicate in a timely manner, then this harm will be short-term.

NetEase Technology: If a user hears this rumor from one channel, they may not believe it. But if three or four channels repeat the same information, even a loyal Google user might start to doubt, right?

Jun Liu: Therefore, we need the media to help us publicize that this does not align with the facts.

NetEase Technology: I believe that all of Google's R&D staff are also online. What were their feelings after hearing the rumors? Did you exchange ideas and communicate with them?

Jun Liu: I said, "Go clear it up." It's not necessarily about clearing up anything specific, because clearing up isn't necessary since everyone using it can see over time whether there has been any manual interference. My deepest feeling is that such discussions arise because there is no clear industry standard, no consensus on what is right and what is wrong.

NetEase Technology: After the Google headquarters heard this rumor, did they hear it? If they did, how did they communicate with you?

Jun Liu: We had some communication. The US headquarters knew that this rumor did not match reality.