Twitter, Privacy Groups Lambast Google Search Changes

Google's changes include adding photos, comments, and news people post on their Google+ profiles, along with other search results, and Google+ members also can see results customized to their interests.

Twitter, though, this week said the changes are bad for users and web publishers, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center said it is considering a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission because the new search methods raise privacy and anti-trust issues.

The argument between Twitter and Google have deep roots. The two companies at one time had a deal that let Google offer a real-time Twitter feed appear within its search results. However, in July, Twitter backed out of the arrangement, Google says, and isn't giving Google permission to use tweet feeds in search results.

Meanwhile, Twitter general council Alex Macgillivray complained Google isn't letting the symbol @ turn up in search results, leaving searches for Twitter users -- whose user names always begin with the @ symbol -- out of Google results.

Meanwhile, searches come back from the Google+ site instead, which Twitter says is unfair because more people use its site than Google's. Twitter claims Google's changes make it harder to find its users' breaking news.

"We're concerned that as a result of Google's changes, finding this information will be much harder for everyone", it said. "We think that's bad for people, publishers, news organizations and Twitter users".

Twitter hasn't said if it will seek antitrust charges against its new rival. The charges, though, may come if Twitter believes Google is blocking its site from searchers. Meanwhile, Google claims it has never indexed the @ symbol, recognized Twitter handles formatted that way, and denied it's changed its search methods to omit Twitter's most-recognizable symbol.

Facebook, which many people believe is Google's real target, hasn't commented on the search engine changes. However, Facebook shares its data mainly with Microsoft's Bing search engine, not Google, so the changes may not as significantly affect Facebook results.

Meanwhile, the Electronic Privacy Information Center today sent a formal letter to the FTC, asking it to investigate Google's new search policy.

EPIC noted the FTC is already investigating how Google compiles search results, because there have been complaints the search giant favors its own advertisers in results. Furthermore, the FTC settled a complaint with Google in October about deceptive privacy practices, accepting a monitoring plan for the next 20 years. EPIC claims the new search method raises concerns about the company's compliance with the settlement.

"Google's changes make the personal data of users more accessible", said EPIC executive director Marc Rotenberg in the letter.

EPIC says Google+ users' might not want their information, including posts, photos and contact details released.

"Google allows users to opt out of receiving search results that include personal data, but users cannot opt out of having their information found by their Google+ contacts through Google search", Rotenberg's letter said.

Ironically, while the changes were likely made to boost Google+ and help grow its membership and advertising, the new search method may backfire, drawing potential regulatory scrutiny and criticism over privacy.

Privacy and secure information is one of the main selling points behind Google+, but if users think Google is sharing their posts without their permission, they may decide to drop off the site, hindering the social network's ability to draw users and advertising dollars away from Facebook.