Google takes users on a crooked path to another charity that apparently pays for placement
Amazon.com offers its users a small way to give back to a favorite charity by using the Amazon Smile portal instead of the regular site. When I make purchase via Amazon, I’m happy to know that .5% of my purchase goes to a charity of a my choice. The key to remember, to have a donation made, is to login through the Smile portal.
The other day I wanted to buy something and didn’t recall the exact Amazon Smile URL, so used Google search to direct me to the proper link. This would have been fine except for the fact that Google is not really a benign search engine. It’s actually set up as a gigantic for profit enterprise which allows its customers to purchase advertising and influence. Apparently search results for Amazon’s charity portal are apparently also considered fair game.
Google’s opaque results set up to fool users into donating to Boston Medical Center
I discovered this evil design when I searched Google for the “Amazon Smile” site. The top search result took me there all right–but with one big caveat. Upon login, the Google search link nefariously set up a window suggesting I switch from my current charity choice to Boston Medical Center instead. Now, I have no problem with Boston Medical Center earning funds from Amazon users who knowingly choose it as their charity of choice. In fact the medical center is a very worthy charity as they serve many in need of serious medical care , but I do have a problem if money has changed hands in a opaque effort to push me, and others, into switching. Is that fair to my original choice of charity?
Here’s how it worked, as I illustrate using the graphic below: Click the link in the top result and you’re taken to the Amazon Smile login page. All’s good–until you login in. To proceed, you must then either select Boston Medical Center (the highlighted option) as your new charity or confirm your previous charity. My question is why should I be forced to (re)confirm my original charity choice? 
I caught on to the scheme quickly, wondering how in hell Boston Medical Center was butting its way into my charity preference, but not every web user will. Let’s face it, some people, particularly older folks, may just click through innocently. After all, the “Yes, change my charity option” is the choice that’s highlighted. Amazon offers this explanation as to why you are being given an option (even though you didn’t think you asked):
You clicked a link from an email or another website indicating you want to set a different charitable organization from the one you selected during an earlier visit. You need to either confirm that you want to change your charity, or keep your previously selected charity.
Problem is, I did not do that. I used Google search and trusted its results. I assume that Amazon remains unaware this is happening.
So, just to summarize. In this world, it’s fair game to siphon off charity dollars that should be directed elsewhere? Google receives payment to rig Amazon Smile search results in such a way that visitors may be tricked into switching. Nothing charitable about that approach is there? In fact, it’s a pretty damn skeevy way to attract donations. Skeevy is, however, Google’s middle name.
For the record, Google claims it labels its ads in search results:
When people search on Google for something they want, they find two types of results: search results and ads. Search results appear as links on search results pages and aren’t part of Google’s advertising programs. Ads appear under an “Ads” label and may be placed in several locations around the free search results.
Nice disclaimer, but when it comes my search for “Amazon Smile” there was NO indication that this result and corresponding link were paid product placements. I guess Google uses different terminology its practice of nesting duplicitous links? This switcheroo is also devious on both Google and Boston Medical’s part. If you want legitimate search results, untainted by the profit motive, Google is truly not the place to go. I wonder if any attorney generals are examining this practice? Perhaps I should ring up the Massachusetts AG and ask?
Bing offers legit search results at the top
For comparison sake I checked out Bing and Yahoo. Bing wins the award for operating as an actual search engine, at least in this case. The Amazon Smile portal is the first result…no questions asked. It’s simple and easy to click and go to the page you actually want.
Yahoo does place a couple advertisements at the top of its results BUT at least they are clearly marked advertisements. Although it seems odd that weather.info is allowed to piggy back on Amazon’s name. After a small spacer, the first genuine search result is a legit linking to the Amazon Smile web portal and doesn’t try and trick you into selecting a different charity.
It’s no surprise that Google manipulates its search algorithm to deploy advertising to fill its coffers, but to do so in such a opaque and deceitful way is pretty awful. Once again Google’s reputation for greed is shown to be well deserved.
Apparently even those who would like to do a little good in the world by donating through Amazon Smile are considered fair game for exploitation by the Google team. Profits above people at every turn. Shame on Google.