Bad News: Google “Offensive Search Results” Brings Up Offensive, Racist Photo of Michelle Obama
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on November 25, 2009
Internet search results often bring up more than what the searcher was bargaining for, as search-engine giant Google has discovered…
From AOL, Google Sorry for Racist First Lady Image:
SAN FRANCISCO (Nov. 25) — Google Inc. is apologizing for a racially offensive image of the first lady that appears at the top of the list when users search for pictures of Michelle Obama on its site.
Google placed a text ad above the image titled “Offensive Search Results” that states “Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree.”
Users who then click on the ad are directed to a letter from Google that explains its results “can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries” but notes that Google doesn’t endorse content on these Web sites.
Google says its search formula relies on thousands of factors to rank a Web page’s importance, and says it doesn’t eliminate search results simply because of user complaints. However, Google says it will take down images in certain cases, such as when required by law to do so.
“We apologize if you’ve had an upsetting experience using Google,” the company wrote.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Google also posted about the issue in a user support forum.
Spokesman Scott Rubin would not elaborate on how the image ended up as the number-one result for the first lady. He said the company did remove one site displaying the image from its results because it included viruses, which Google policy prohibits. But a different Web site later posted the same image, he said.
The White House declined to comment.
Other Google-related reading:
Capitol Confidential, Big Government: Google: Openness for Thee, But Not For Me
National Journal: Net Neutrality Fight Turns To First Amendment
ZDNet Government: Google loses book copyright case in France and DOJ vs. Google: Will it happen? Unlikely – as government would lose
Frugal Café Blog Zone: New December Google Logo Launched Today… Happy Holidays Series 2009 Begins; UPDATED: Lame & Disappointing Google Christmas Logo and Google Logo Honors Esperanto Day, 150th Anniversary of Birth of Esperanto Creator L. L. Zamenhof and Popeye Google Logo Celebrates Cartoonist E.C. Segar’s Birthday and Thanksgiving Google Logo… Snoopy and Woodstock and Veterans Day Art Tribute: New Google Doodle Logo, Norman Rockwell Military Tributes and Google’s Doodles Honor Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary… Happy Birthday, Big Bird! (video) – Update: Cookie Monster in New Google Logo – Update Nov. 6: Bert & Ernie in Today’s Google Doodle Logo – Nov. 7, Oscar the Grouch Added – Nov. 8, Hello, Elmo! – Updated Nov. 9, The Count Added – Updated Nov. 10, The Gang’s All Here! and Mystery of 2 “L’s” on Google’s Homepage
Andrew Marcus, Big Government: Giving Thanks For The Internet
USA Today: FCC plans to formalize Internet rules on net neutrality draw fire
The Hill: Obama’s FCC named one of the seven most ‘disruptive developments’ of 2009
About the author
Net neutrality is something we should have on our radar.
Google is in bed with the Administration, and probably susceptible to threats that may infringe on 1st Amendment rights.
Google relies on ads, if the administration restricts the content of Google, it will either raise it’s 1st Amendment rights against tyranny, or go down the path of the major newspapers that are failing financially because of a loss of readership.
I saw the picture, but the 1st Amendment still applies.
If the administration wants to restrict our freedom of speech, then it should apply to the left wing libs also.
Outstanding points made, AFVET. This is only the beginning of pruning our First Amendment rights if we don’t stay aware.
This is the face of divisive America, brought to you by the world banksters.
Without the distractions of things which separate humans the banksters cannot move their enslavement agenda forward. It is time to start chopping off heads.