A couple of weeks ago the Silverback Round-up was a Google-focused post, briefly discussing a number of news items related to the Google universe. That post was created because it was a light week in regards to online specific news. Two weeks later Google is dominating the online news world for a number of important reasons ranging from changes to its privacy policies, algorithm updates and possible new legal issues. Here are a few of the major news items related to Google that have occurred recently. Google always manages to keep things interesting.

Wednesday, February 8 Silverback Marketing reported about the latest update to the Panda algorithm. Google maintains that the latest update was not a change to the algorithm, merely a “refresh” of Panda since no major update had taken place since December.

An update to Panda is a big deal but even more noteworthy this week is the lawsuit brought against the Federal Trade Commission by the Electronic Privacy Information Center. The purpose of the act was to try and stop Google from releasing new privacy policies that would allow the company to integrate all of a user’s profiles into one unit. EPIC states this practice would allow advertisers to gain control of an individual’s personal data without getting the consent of that person first. The new Google privacy policies are set to launch on March 1.

Other new tools and functions that have recently been released by Google include a mobile version of its Chrome browser for Android devices, a better version of its Autocomplete function and the opportunity for your images to rank higher in Google image searches if the picture is part of a high ranking landing page. Chrome for Android is currently in beta phase which has become a common practice of Google.

There is plenty more from the Google World on the horizon so be sure to click the links below for further information as well as the two Silverback Marketing links in the second and third paragraphs. Have a great weekend!

ClickZ – Daniel Robinson – Google Brings Chrome Browser to Android Devices
Google Tutor – Abhijeet Mukherjee – Chrome For Android Finally Sees the Light of the Day
Receptional – Nick Andrews – Google Confirms Panda 3.2 Update
Search Engine Watch – Danny Goodwin – Panda, Fresher Results, Spelling Top Google’s January 2012 Search Updates
ZDNet – John Fontana – EPIC sues FTC to stop Google; search giant says group wrong on facts, law