[uf-discuss] Hidden metadata no microformats

[Andy Mabbett]

In message <46898F8C.7090108 at splintered.co.uk>, Patrick H. Lauke 
<redux at splintered.co.uk> writes

>Paul Wilkins wrote:
>
>> You could try the FAQ.
>> http://microformats.org/wiki/faq
>>  Where it says:
>>  Q. Given that Google now looks at hidden content as potential spam, 
>>will  invisible microformats be considered spam?
>>  A. It is advisable not to hide information in your site, regardless 
>>of  whether it is microformated or not. Microformats provide a 
>>mechanism for  marking up visible content. Any mechanism for embedding 
>>invisible or  hidden content risks being considered spam due to the 
>>fact that  invisible (meta)data inevitably ends up being abused. Avoid 
>>invisible  (meta)data. Publish visible data.
>
>FUD. Will Google attempt to parse the complex interplay of CSS and 
>(X)HTML for each page to determine if content is somehow hidden? No. 
>Currently, the way it works is that somebody reports a page to Google, 
>and their team investigates it (cfr the case of BMW in Germany a while 
>ago). There's human judgement involved, and not an automated "hidden = 
>spam" algorithm.

I've updated the FAQ to reflect that.

I've still seen no citation for any *prohibition* of hidden data in 
microformats...

-- 
Andy Mabbett