Google is testing a new verification feature in its search results to help users avoid clicking on fraudulent or fake website links. Some users have noticed blue verified checkmarks next to business links, indicating that the company — such as Meta or Apple — is legitimate, rather than a copycat trying to exploit a well-known brand.
“We regularly test features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google,” Google public affairs representative Molly Shaheen explained to The Verge.
Jay Peters, a colleague, spotted these checkmarks beside official links for Microsoft, Meta, Epic Games, Apple, Amazon, and HP. However, the checkmarks disappeared when he logged into a different Google account, suggesting that this feature is still in a limited testing phase.
When hovering over a checkmark, a message appears stating that “Google’s signals suggest this business is the one it claims to be,” based on factors like website verification, Merchant Center data, and manual reviews, according to Shaheen.
This experiment seems to be an extension of Google’s Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) system, which shows verification checkmarks in Gmail for verified senders. Google has not officially announced the search checkmarks or provided a timeline for a broader rollout.
Google is testing a new verification feature in its search results to help users avoid clicking on fraudulent or fake website links. Some users have noticed blue verified checkmarks next to business links, indicating that the company — such as Meta or Apple — is legitimate, rather than a copycat trying to exploit a well-known brand.
“We regularly test features that help shoppers identify trustworthy businesses online, and we are currently running a small experiment showing checkmarks next to certain businesses on Google,” Google public affairs representative Molly Shaheen explained to The Verge.
Jay Peters, a colleague, spotted these checkmarks beside official links for Microsoft, Meta, Epic Games, Apple, Amazon, and HP. However, the checkmarks disappeared when he logged into a different Google account, suggesting that this feature is still in a limited testing phase.
When hovering over a checkmark, a message appears stating that “Google’s signals suggest this business is the one it claims to be,” based on factors like website verification, Merchant Center data, and manual reviews, according to Shaheen.
This experiment seems to be an extension of Google’s Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) system, which shows verification checkmarks in Gmail for verified senders. Google has not officially announced the search checkmarks or provided a timeline for a broader rollout.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/4/24261877/google-search-verified-checkmarks-experiment-feature