mack - 4:08 am on Feb 5, 2009 (gmt 0)

One very importaint issue to take from this is the fact that Google's only concern from a serp point of view is the searcher. Any referal data is simply a bi-product.

Some users have spoken in terms of this breaking the internet, lets be honest. Google have shaped the entire internet to suit its own business model and so long as it doesnt hurt us, we let it happen.

Look at how Google has altered the online ad business. popup ads, how many businesses went under due to Google starting the ball rolling with pop up blockers. The Gogle toolbar alone did a good job of killing that industry.

Another example of Google shaping the web and how linking (the fundimental flow of the web) should work was rel=nofollow.

Is this realy any different to the above examples. Legaly does a search engine need to allow a browser to forward referal data? No.

What we are seeing is another example of Google making a change for its own gain, and ignoring what possible effect this will have for other businesses.

Personaly it will effect me because I manage my own stats using a script I wrote. If Google do go ahead with this my own app will become virtualy useless. I am not alone.

Mack.