Google Testing Check Marks for Verified Companies

(Reuters) – Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)’s Google is testing the display of check marks next to certain companies in its search results, according to a spokesperson on Friday. This initiative aims to assist users in identifying verified sources and avoiding fake websites.

Fraudulent websites impersonating official businesses could appear in search results, leading users to encounter false information that deceives them and potentially harms the brand’s reputation.

The spokesperson stated, “We regularly experiment with 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 has existing automated systems designed to identify pages with fraudulent content to prevent them from appearing in search results.

The Verge reported earlier on Friday that it noticed blue verified checkmarks next to links for official sites of companies such as Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Meta (NASDAQ:META), and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) in search results.

Only a limited number of users are able to see this feature, suggesting that Google has not yet widely rolled out the test.