Google is changing how search works in its iOS app

The Google App for iOS can automatically turn some webpage text into links to Google Search results, according to a community post found by SERoundtable.

Google refers to the function as "Page Annotations" and states that it "extracts interesting entities from the webpage and highlights them in line," which can then send you to Search results when you tap them - inserting connections without expressly consulting the user or site owner first. It seems like an odd decision for a company mired in antitrust litigation over both its search and advertising divisions.

Google provides a form for web publishers to opt-out of the links. According to the form, "the Page Annotation feature triggered on your site will be disabled within 30 days" of submitting it. Those doing so must submit all varieties of their site, including "www and non-www, http and https, and subdomains."

According to 9to5Google, this capability is similar to the "ad intents" that Google added to its AdSense program earlier this year in that it automatically puts links that display "relevant, organic search results with ads" in website text. The distinction is that site owners must opt into ad intentions rather than opting out.