BP Buys 'Oil' Search Terms w/ Google to Redirect Users to Official Company Website

[G_j]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Broadcast/bp-buys-search-engine-phrases-redirecting-users/story?id=10835618

BP Buys 'Oil' Search Terms to Redirect Users to Official Company Website

BP Spokesman Acknowledges Purchase 'To Make It Easier for People to Find Out More About Our Efforts in the Gulf' and Other Ways to Help

Be careful where you click, especially if you're looking for news on the BP oil spill.


Screengrab of google search for "oil spill" shows BP website as first link.

BP, the very company responsible for the oil spill that is already the worst in U.S. history, has purchased several phrases on search engines such as Google and Yahoo so that the first result that shows up directs information seekers to the company's official website.

A simple Google search of "oil spill" turns up several thousand news results, but the first link, highlighted at the very top of the page, is from BP. "Learn more about how BP is helping," the link's tagline reads.

A spokesman for the company confirmed to ABC News that it had, in fact, bought these search terms to make information on the spill more accessible to the public.
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[rrneck]

1. They buy the spin, we buy the cleanup. nt

[Botany]

2. Epic Fail

This like trying to hide a moose in your backyard

[stevedeshazer]

3. I just googled "oil spill". You are 100% correct. #1 hit.

I wonder how many corporo-bucks went to Google for their helpful complicity.

Does anyone here know what it costs to buy such a thing?

[G_j]

4. upwards of $10,000 per day

"Scott Slatin, an analyst who runs search engine marketing company Rivington in New York, estimates the company is paying upwards of $10,000 per day to maintain the various search terms."

[onestepforward]

10. They should be using that money

to provide all clean up workers with respirators and other protective gear to keep them safe. I know that's not a BP goal though. Sigh.

[G_j]

11. Louisiana to BP: Show me the money

http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/04/smallbusiness/louisiana_bp_claims/?postversion=2010060509

Louisiana to BP: Show me the money

By Catherine Clifford, staff reporterJune 5, 2010: 9:07 AM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- For thousands of people put out of work in the Gulf because of the oil spill, BP's checks to pay for lost wages and income are just not coming fast enough, if they come at all. The state of Louisiana is demanding that BP's claims database be made public so it can understand what's the holdup.

"Hardworking people should not be forced into poverty by the oil spill," said Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink in a statement. "We need to understand why so many claims have not been paid, some for many weeks." Even those businesses that have received a first check from BP have no information on when a follow up check will be coming.

The Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) and Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), along with the Louisiana Attorney General's office, have requested - multiple times - that BP grant the state access to the claims database and provide information about how the oil giant is making its decisions to approve or deny claims related to the oil spill, according to a statement released Friday by the Joint Information Center in Louisiana, a group responsible for coordinating oil spill communication.

"More than 40 days into this disaster, people's livelihoods are on indefinite hold, it is becoming harder to support their families and some even face eviction from their homes," said DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols. "Immediate assistance from BP is critica

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[Botany]

5. no way to hide "it"

"I can smell oil this morning." DUer trof of Gulf Shores Alabama


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8483877

[habitual]

6. yah but notice the second sponsored entry: a litigation firm

representing claims against the Gulf Disaster..

http://www.levinlaw.com/

[Posteritatis]

13. And thanks to BP, lots and lots of people are going to see that firm too. Oopsie! (nt)

[Taitertots]

7. The internet has become something Orwell could only dream of

Winston works for google

[Rex]

8. With every passing day, I hate BP more and more.

They seem to be adept at shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly.

[City Lights]

9. At least "fuck bp" still returns "fuckbp.net"

And I can't yell "fuck bp" loudly or frequently enough!

[ThomWV]

12. Then don't use Google

[G_j]

18. it's more just taking notice

of BP's PR tactics and priorities.

[hobbit709]

14. try "oil disaster'

[G_j]

17. BP doesn't do disasters

:sarcasm:

[laughingliberal]

15. Perhaps time for a Google bomb. Something like 'Murderous Oil Companies.' nt

[michaz]

16. Any place there to leave them a little message? n/t

[Overseas]

19. K&R. //nt

[Mari333]

20. shit, they even bought 'BP assholes'

http://www.google.com/search?q=bp+assholes&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

but they havent bought 'Fuck BP' yet


http://www.google.com/search?q=fuck+bp&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[G_j]

21. 2,090,000 entries for "Fuck BP" nt