Google already assesses the reputation of blogs with its PageRank system (and the 199 other parameters that its algorithm computes). Now, we are learning that the FTC will go at it and monitor whether the bloggers who receive $$$ from commercial organizations do disclose that to their readers. In our field, it would apply to:
- The prediction market blogs who hot-link to the real-money prediction exchanges and get a cut when their readers make a trade;
- The conference organizers who over-hype the enterprise prediction markets (inspite of half of the collective intelligence solution providers having completely abandonned EPMs), get paid to do so, and/or get a cut when they connect a prospect with a company.
In both cases, I haven’t seen any disclosure from them. (Not that I mind what those microscopic bloggers do, but this post is written with the brand-new FTC rule in mind.)
