By Sharon Hill
 
As with many independent web sites, Doubtful News relies on search results from Google to send traffic to the site. Many skeptical activism sites are encouraged to use best practices for search engine optimization in order to gain readers looking for more information on a particular topic. The importance of searches to provide a wide-ranging view of Internet information is why news yesterday regarding manipulation of search results was worrisome.

Blogger Esther Rockett brought to light that Universal Medicine, a controversial unit promoting "Esoteric Medicine" headed by Serge Benhayon (not a licensed physician), hired a company to address potential Internet defamation claims. This is a common activity for alt med practitioners, celebrity psychics, and those pushing dubious claims. They will make attempts to silence criticism by issuing takedown notices to the site's internet service provider, filing copyright infringement claims, threatening libel action, and, now, petitioning Google to remove specific URLs (internet addresses) from Google search results. 

By Sharon Hill 


The JREF twitter account @jref received some requests to look into an odd story out of the UK earlier this month. A man dubbed the “hypnotist thief” was recorded on security video putting the owner of a shop in a sort of “trance” before robbing him. Is it possible to be hypnotized like this? Many were skeptical. We contacted an expert to find out what may be behind this.

The suspect is shown in the video brushing past the store owner, Mr. (Aziz) Haider, then gently tapping him on the arm. In this casual interaction, Aziz appears mesmerized and compliant as the robber removes his wallet, squeezes Aziz’ shoulder, pats his chest, makes some hand gestures, then exits. Suddenly, Aziz seems to realize his wallet is gone and runs out after the thief. The police reported that Aziz said he did not recall what had happened to him during the robbery. Officials think it was a distractive parlor trick by a person who was obviously well-practiced. The information given in the news stories is limited and we are left without important details like what was said between the men (the video has no sound) and if he had seen the thief before.