A journalist for MacWorld did a search on the Google News, typing in "Agence France Presse," only to find that indeed articles with an AFP byline were still listed, even one from the New York Times' website. The results of a quick search on the French version of Google News proved similar.

Doing a quick search myself, I was also able to find a few bylines and photos from AFP even from the GoogleNews homepage. Although they weren't listed as coming from AFP on the homepage, when clicking through, there was the AFP credit. Surely there are many more than the few I was able to find in 5 minutes.  

Google is not of yet legally obliged to eliminate all AFP content from its site, but morally, especially because it purports to not be "evil," Google's promise to eliminate content from publishers who ask to delist themselves should be upheld.

But in reality, is this possible?

If AFP was a hermit, it could be said that no one would mind if it committed suicide, which is what some people equate to taking oneself off of Google. But the fact is, AFP is not a hermit; it has lots of acquaintances off which it makes money by taking it in exchange for use of its articles. If AFP decides to go completely through with its digital suicide, it would simultaneously be forcing the kool aid down the throats of those acquaintances.

For instance, I don't think the French daily Le Figaro would be too happy if readers couldn't access its article found through Google News about a deceased French comedian because of the photos in the slideshow it offers come from AFP. Or that the Guardian would appreciate it if readers couldn't click through to an article  about the Zidane headbutt because a picture next to the story is accredited AFP/Getty. And I doubt if any of the long-list of publications around the world that use AFP's articles or simply quote it as a source would allow those articles not to be scanned by Google News.

If this were the case, however, if AFP has its way, it's very possible there'd be a massive exodus of publishers from AFP content which would eventually cut significantly into the revenues of the world's third largest news agency. And since the AFP never turned itself into an online news portal supported by advertising in the spirit of Reuters, after this exodus, it wouldn't have a leg to stand on in the digital age. 

Source: MacWorld