© 2026 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Google Is Manipulating Search Results, Study Finds

Google may offer the benefit of filtering a world of data into a digestible stream of links, but new research says those results are subject to manipulation.

The study, authored by top legal and economic scholars from Columbia and Harvard University, but paid for by Google rival Yelp, says the search engine giant knowingly buries its competitors. Google refutes the findings.

The study could have big legal implications for Google. Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson speaks with Mark Bergen of Re/code about the potential impact.

Guest

  • Mark Bergen, associate editor of search and online advertising for Re/code. He tweets @mhbergen.
  • Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

    KCUR is here for Kansas City, because Kansas City is here for KCUR.

    Your support makes KCUR's work possible — from reporting that keeps officials accountable, to storytelling that connects our community. You can make sure the future of local journalism is strong.