Google is testing verified checkboxes in search results By Reuters

(Reuters) – Google Alphabet (NASDAQ: the fake ones.

Fraudulent websites impersonating official businesses or services could appear in online search results, causing users to see false information about the business, deceiving users and potentially damaging the brand.

“We regularly test features that help shoppers identify trusted online businesses, and we’re currently running a small experiment that shows a tick next to certain businesses on Google,” the spokesperson said.

Google already uses automated systems to identify pages with “misleading” or fraudulent content and prevent them from appearing in search results.

The Verge reported the development earlier Friday, adding that it found blue verified signs next to official website links for companies such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: ), Meta (NASDAQ: ) and Apple (NASDAQ: ) in search results.

Only some users were able to see the feature, the Verge said, indicating that Google has not yet rolled out the test widely.