Google can claim another life saved after a kidnapped Australian journalist was freed by his captors in Iraq earlier today. Freelance journalist John Martinkus was abducted by gunmen on Saturday outside a hotel near the Australian embassy. Apparently Martinkus was able to convince his captors that he was a journalist and not a CIA agent, a claim easily confirmed by a quick Google search.
Mike Carey, a producer with Australia’s Special Broadcasting Service, told the Associated Press that, Google likely saved Martinkus’ life. “They Googled him and then went onto a web site – either his own or his book publisher’s web site, I don’t know which one – and saw that he was who he was, and that was instrumental in letting him go, I think, or swinging their decision.”
Martinkus is reported to be heading home to Australia. Neither version of Google-bot was available for comment.
Jim Hedger has written a widely read search marketing column for over five years. Co-host of Webcology on WebmasterRadio.FM, Jim is a writer and SEO consultant with Metamend Search Engine Marketing in Victoria BC.
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