Because of its broad implications on the economy, the FTC has hired outside legal counsel to head the FTC antitrust probe of Google. Announced just a couple of hours ago, FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz noted that the case was both complex and Google’s actions could have a dramatic impact on consumers both now and in the years ahead. Of the many complaints against Google, it is alleged that Google is using its search monopoly to crush competitors as they steamroll into new ventures.

Hearing such news on a day when the Penguin algorithm update has been confirmed is a small taste of justice by those that have seen their ranks drop out of Google’s SERPS. Many of these people, which own small businesses, have been complaining for a week or more that they no longer have any search engine visibility in Google. These same people also allege that corporate interests were delivered in the Penguin algorithm which pushed small businesses aside.

On April 24, 2012, Google posted a blog post in the Official Google Webmaster Central Blog about an algorithm update targeting webspam. This type of SEO, which is described by many as black hat SEO, has been a target of Google’s Matt Cutts for some time. It’s a daunting task for him and his team, but early reports of this algorithm update suggest that all webmasters should have cause for concern.

First, you might want to read Google’s post titled “Another Step to Reward High Quality Sites.” Judging by the comments on their blog post, Google is not dishing out rewards. Instead, Google is destroying many legitimate businesses that rely on search traffic for their sole existence. Obviously, many webmasters are upset.