Bombs, Anyone?
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Philippine Politics
November 23, 2005
I HAVE HEARD ABOUT SMART BOMBS (are they smarter than doctors?) or firebombs but I didn’t know that there is such a thing as a Google Bomb. It seems to me that Google is into a lot of things lately.
But this one ain’t really a Google product like the Google Analytics or Google Base but instead, Google Bombs or Google Bombing is a trick effected by ultra-savvy tech guys in order to manipulate web protocols where as a result, certain search words would directly link to a certain site irregardless of whether or not such site has any relation to the aforementioned search word or words. This Internet phenomenon was first discussed by a certain Adam Mathes in 2001 where he pointed out that searches for the term “Internet Rockstar” would lead to the site of a certain Ben Brown even though Mr. Brown’s site absolutely does not contain any content relating to the subject “Internet Rockstar”. Obviously, this web trick is used to manipulate rankings in search engines and increase hits in the process. Everyone can be hit-crazy isn’t it? If only I know these tricks…
And now comes the bombings within our shores and obviously this time, the “bombing procedure” was not used as a rank manipulation scheme but for some “unusual” purpose. Some youthful activists have recently used the net in order to show their disaffection with the GMA administration. These young radicals seem to have enough web savvy to express their protestations in the most peculiar way. They have gone the lengths of creating some HTML magic where the search word “pekeng pangulo” would lead to a certain site of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Not only that, words like “pimps” and “sinungaling” would lead to the online profiles of Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Secretary Norberto Gonzales respectively. It’s a little cool ain’t it? But I am wary if it’s legal at all.
By the way, the young radicals abovementioned do have a blogsite. Just Click This Link.
See The Philippine Daily Inquirer report on this subject and read more about the meaning of Google Bombs in The Word Spy.
The cyberspace is now the newest frontier in propaganda warfare.
PS: Great new blog design.
Comment by Sam — November 24, 2005 @ 9:41 am
nag-iisip din kami ng keyword para kay garci, ano kaya maganda? ginagamit din google bomb ng ilan nating kababayan para yung keyword na ‘filipina women’ ay di mapunta sa porno sites.
Comment by mong — November 24, 2005 @ 9:57 am
Google Bombing is fairly easy to do if you have several willing collaborators. The same technique was used to spread black propoganda on George W. Bush. Democractic supporters exploited this loophole on Google’s ranking logic to link the word “failure” to the US President’s official page. In retaliation, Republican supporters countered by linking word this time to Michael Moore’s personal website. Mr. Moore, the producer of the award-winning movie Fahrenheit 9/11, is an outspoken critic of Bush and the Iraq war. As to its legality, the Internet is a place where freedom reigns supreme. It would take a lot of political pressures on Google to compel them to change its search database. Remember, Google has become a formidable force to be reckoned with. I don’t think GMA has the ability to alter Google’s conduct of business.
Comment by John Clark — November 24, 2005 @ 11:54 am
@Sam:
Indeed, the net is such a boundless realm that discovery is always possible at every end. As you said aptly, it’s probably the new frontier for men to conquer and reign.Thanks for the good note on the template…I’ll probably stick with it…Many thanks to jorge, our fellow blogger over at Far From Neutral.
@mong:
I heard actually about the move to redirect every search word “pinay” away from porno sites. It’s probably the most profound endeavor I have heard in the net so far this side of the world.
@John:
I believe we have learned a lot from the US experience. To me this is such a unique and entirely refreshing mode of political protestation although it may pose some harm if the so-called Google Bombing would be used by unscrupulous individuals for some malicious purpose.
I bet Google is now busy in tackling this phenomenon, in order that it may not exacerbate into some ugly mess.
Comment by Major Tom — November 25, 2005 @ 8:57 am
I guess it was cute the first 10,000 times it was done. But really is that the best we’ve got? No wonder Garci can crap all over the Congress and have them clean up the mess. Bloggers are too busy dreaming up of keywords and playing with Google. Don’t kid yourselves about being “ultrasavvy tech”. You’ve better things to do, IMHO.No one in particular…just passing through.
Comment by Rizalist — November 29, 2005 @ 8:00 am
Major Tom: I do like your futuristic site! Have you heard about Firefox 1.5…its a major release .. just saw it at TechMemeorandum (my favorite place for TECH NEWS)
regards
Comment by Rizalist — November 30, 2005 @ 6:10 am
@Rizalist:
That must be the case. Google bombing may be a harmless fad by now but I am afraid it may fall into the hands of the unscrupulous amongst us and be used in a negative way.
Thanks for the good note on my template. Jorge of Far From Neutral helped on it and he was such an angel.
Yeah ive chech the techmemorandum site, it looks so informative. I guess I can get my tech news there starting now…
Comment by Major Tom — November 30, 2005 @ 6:17 am
Here is a serious technical thing I wish someone would blog about so our journalists like Henry Omaga Diaz might get creative, in a sneaky sort of way. Global Positioning Systems are cheap and readily available. They provide one meter resolution appx, ALTITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE, recording your exact location digitally every couple of seconds. Great for Trekkers and INTERVIEWERS of fugitives or their family and friends. I think MAGELLAN makes the best models…Check out the site called GIZMODO!
Comment by Rizalist — November 30, 2005 @ 7:18 am
@ Rizalist:
GPS technology has been here for long now I guess. I will try to read more on the recent updates on it and see if I can blog about it.
Comment by Major Tom — November 30, 2005 @ 12:52 pm
mong and major tom: thanks for adverting to the filipina and “yan ang pinay” googlebombing effort. a few links would have been nice =)
Comment by vonjobi — December 2, 2005 @ 11:07 am
I’ll have the links for you in a while vonjobi..
Comment by Major Tom — December 3, 2005 @ 1:22 am