Google is adding badges that certify the identity of users of its Google+ social networking site, starting with public figures and with people who have been added by many as contacts.

Later on, the verification badges will be available to a bigger scope of users who aren't famous or broadly popular on the site, Google official Wen-Ai Yu said in a Google+ post.

For now the main goal is to inform users which is the official profile of a singer, actor, politician, public figure or popular Google+ account holder they may want to add to their Google+ Circles to follow their public posts.

"When you visit the profile of a celebrity or public figure, youll see a verification badge next to their profile name. This will help you easily determine which profiles are owned by real, verified people," she wrote.

More: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9219337/

............................................................................................