Danny Sullivan conducted a rather lively and interesting interview session at Search Engine Strategies San Jose the morning after the Google Dance.
Danny: AOL controversy, privacy, etc?
It’s obviously a terrible thing. Speaking for Google, the trust of our end users. It’s funny that we talk about the company being more transparent. We had a case where the government gave use an overbroad subpoena. A judge ruled for us.
Danny: Google saves the data. Should you destroy the data?
We are reasonably satisfied, it’s not and accidental error. We’ve dbated what you suggest.
Danny: Does a search engine need to filter more of this data?
In California, information on DMV was public. It would be nice if there was a systemic way to list it. It is illegal to
Danny: Should you take a site like that down.
We’ve discussed it.
Danny: The debate about click fraud?
The advertisers show a click fraud rate now. Why are trying to give advertisers information about how it’s working.
Danny: How much money is going into search?
We have chosen not to release the underlying economics… We are working to give people the ability to target where their ads go.
Danny: Google ads are now on radio, image, etc…
Much of the world’s video will be repurposed to the web. Using video ads can enable that.
Danny: Whatever you do, it’s going to be measurable…
Measurable ads start now. You hear ads that ae a waste of your time today. You should end up with fewer ads with more purpose. That is going to benefit everyone.
Danny: Standards – why is this happening now?
Click fraud, link fraud, standardized formats. Tim Armstrong is working with the IAB on this for us.
Danny: Adsense is a power for good. Should the problem areas be clamped on?
Overall, it’s a great outcome. We have people that abuse it. We are getting better at detecting the areas of attack.
Danny: Boring, search can boring, search is still working on a box.
Many people are happy with this one box. But, we are starting igoogle, a series of gadgets.
Danny: Links…
We want to provide the best technical result. How do we use information that is very proprietary. Even I don’t know the algorithm.
Danny: Book search…
Google has to be careful, we want to avoid issues. There is a fair use issue. The law is not that clear.
Danny: Google we are everywhere you want to be…I surrender. Give me the implant.
Would you like to be a test case? (laughs) Primary goal is to make their lives better. We’ve talked about the limits of our growth. People are one click
Danny: How often do you search?
50-100 times a day…A politician, came in and knew there was more outhouses than Tivo? A year later is wasn’t true. Google is not a perfect truth filter.
Danny: When was the last time you clicked on an ad?
All the time, I search, Google search cause I do a lot of online shopping and I want to know how things work.
Audience: Transparency, do you see plans – momentarily will I be able to monentize my search.
I hadn’t thought of that fully, that is clever. There are elements right now.
Audience: Ebay question…
We want to integrate Paypal so that people have choice.