The search engine giant announced on Wednesday that it will stop linking its search results to farms and slaughterhouses. The change, which will take effect in 2019, is a direct response to public pressure over the company’s ties to animal agriculture. “We know that there’s growing public concern about the way we use technology and the impact of our products on the environment and animals,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a statement. “We’ve been working on this for a long time, and I’m really proud of the progress we’ve made.” Google has come under fire in recent years for its close ties to animal agriculture. The company has been criticized for providing financial support to agricultural research, as well as its role in promoting factory farming practices. In addition, Google has been accused of promoting misleading information about veganism and vegetarianism through its search results. The change is likely to have a significant impact on Google’s business model. The company generates revenue from advertising placements within its search results, as well as through sales of products that are promoted by those results. Ending links to farms and slaughterhouses will likely reduce those revenues significantly. ..
