Washington: Google Inc offered a detailed glimpse into its secret process of ranking Internet websites on Monday, publishing for the first time a list of recent tweaks to its closely guarded search algorithm.
While less than revelatory, the details published on Google`s official blog mark a departure for the Internet search leader, as antitrust regulators investigate claims that the company`s search process might be biased toward its own business and operations.
Google makes about 500 changes to its search formula every year. In Monday`s blogpost, it described 10 recent changes ranging from how it treats Web searches in less-common languages -- such as Swahili -- to refinements around the way it displays results.
Google has outlined tweaks to its search methodology previously, but Monday`s blogpost is the first time it has offered this level of detail on a series of adjustments.
The US Federal Trade Commission, which investigates violations of antitrust law, is looking into complaints that Google`s search results favor the company`s other services, among other issues.
Analysts say Google, which runs an estimated 69 percent of Web searches worldwide, can make or break a company depending on its search ranking.
Google hired 12 lobbying firms this summer in the wake of the FTC probe, after previously hiring six other lobbying firms.
Bureau Report
