[Infowarrior] - Verizon Overrides Internet Searches With Its Own Results

[Richard Forno]

Verizon Overrides Internet Searches With Its Own Results
Web search "tinkering" raises net neutrality concerns

by Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com

November 3, 2007 

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/11/verizon_search.html

Subscribers to Verizon's high-powered fiber-optic Internet service (FiOS)
are reporting that when they mistype a Web site address, they get redirected
to Verizon's own search engine page -- even if they don't have Verizon's
search page set as their default.

The change has been advertised by Verizon as a way to help users reach the
site they were trying to get to, but some are concerned that it's done more
to gain revenue from advertisements placed on the Verizon search site.

"It was the very first thing I noticed when Verizon finally got FiOS
installed here the other day. Very annoying and hardly in the spirit of net
neutrality, eh?," wrote one Webmaster World user, who originally had Google
set as his default search engine.

Verizon first rolled out what it calls its "Advanced Web Search" for FiOS
subscribers in the Midwest in June 2007.

The search redirects a mistyped Web site address, such as
"comsumerafairs.com" rather than "consumeraffairs.com", to Verizon's own
search page, containing a list of similar Web site addresses and
advertisements powered by Google rivals such as Yahoo and Ask.com.

Verizon, or any other Internet provider that uses a similar system, could
generate revenue from the users visiting the pages, even if they don't click
on the ads--or if they never intended to visit the site in the first place.

Technology forums such as Broadband Reports and WebMasterWorld are reporting
that Verizon has now extended its "Advanced Web Search" feature to FiOS
subscribers in Maryland and Virginia as well.

"How common is this - ISPs profitting from direct navigation failures? If it
isn't then this is likely the wave of the future," wrote one peeved Web
surfer.

If you don't want to have your search results interfered with, Verizon has
set up an "opt out" procedure to reset your DNS settings. Make sure to
follow the directions carefully and run several test searches with mistyped
addresses to make sure you get the right--or wrong, in this case--result.
The Shape Of Things To Come?

Using mistyped domain names to redirect users to search pages full of ads
has been tried before, by Internet providers such as Cox and Earthlink.

In order to redirect the user to the search sites, the user's Domain Name
Service (DNS) settings are altered, which can interfere with previously set
network security and safe Internet browsing features.

It also raises the question of whether or not an Internet provider that
automatically redirects a user's searches without telling them will also
shape the results they do get, such as filtering their searches to get
specific results.

Preferential results from Internet providers is a prime concern for
supporters of "net neutrality," the principle that all content on the
Internet should be accessesd freely and equally. Supporters of net
neutrality believe that Internet providers may redirect users from their
preferred Web pages or content to content the provider favors--such as
redirecting a user from Google's search page to Verizon's.

Although Verizon opposes net neutrality, it has also said repeatedly that it
would not block content or favor its own offerings over rivals--although it
now appears to be doing just that.

The telecom giant recently got into hot water over its blocking of text
messages from abortion rights group NARAL, leading to a quick reversal.