Google has launched a new tool that enables users to comment on the left-hand side of a webpage. Google Sidewiki is a feature of Google Toolbar, a search function used by many. Sidewiki is currently available with Firefox and IE, soon to be coming to Chrome and other browsers.

The purpose of this tool is allow people to share valuable information within the subject category. You can post entries and give feedback on other users’ posts. Some might say this enables consumers to keep a tighter rein of the web, shifting the power away from corporate sites. But would Google Sidewiki be more beneficial or disastrous?

Good or bad, you decide.

Technically, like other comment systems, there’s no stopping spamming, advertising on a competing website or just posting irrelevant entries.

Moderators will have no control of the Sidewiki tool on their page yet. Google has mentioned, however, that  ”instead of displaying the most recent entries first, we rank Sidewiki entries using an algorithm that promotes the most useful, high-quality entries. It takes into account feedback from you and other users, previous entries made by the same author and many other signals we developed”.

I’m wondering how webpage owners will deal with defamatory comments of any sort. Or is bad publicity still better than no publicity?

If you’re curious about Google Sidewiki, read more here.