Google “oil spill” or “BP” and, whattya know, the first result is BP’s own website accompanied by the tagline, “Learn More about How BP is Helping.” No, not because they’re trying to be more transparent about their efforts to stem the flow. In fact, BP
continues to release only limited, questionable data about how much
oil is actually gushing.
Rather, BP has actually purchased oil-disaster-related phrases on several search engines. A BP
spokesman claims the company did this “to make it
easier for people to find key links to information on filing claims,
reporting oil on the beach, and signing up to volunteer.” But we’re not
buying their sneaky tactic to negate the negative notions now associated
with their name.
Most people don’t know that this first search result is sponsored, meaning that folks frequently fall for BP’s trick and end up on the oil company’s website for biased spill coverage. Don’t let BP off the hook: spread the word and take action !
--Sophie Matson / photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard/Patrick Kelley
Rather, BP has actually purchased oil-disaster-related phrases on several search engines. A BP spokesman claims the company did this “to make it easier for people to find key links to information on filing claims, reporting oil on the beach, and signing up to volunteer.” But we’re not buying their sneaky tactic to negate the negative notions now associated with their name.
Most people don’t know that this first search result is sponsored, meaning that folks frequently fall for BP’s trick and end up on the oil company’s website for biased spill coverage. Don’t let BP off the hook: spread the word and take action !
--Sophie Matson / photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard/Patrick Kelley