Don’t shoot the messenger
Search giant Google has been moved to start apologising for unsavoury content revealed by some Google searches.
If you search on Google images for the US first lady, Michelle Obama, the first image shown is one that has been manipulated to give her a simian appearance. The first ‘sponsored link' at the top of that search page is a message from Google entitled "Offensive Search Results".
"The beliefs and preferences of those who work at Google, as well as the opinions of the general public, do not determine or impact our search results," said the subsequent message. "Accordingly, we do not remove a page from our search results simply because its content is unpopular or because we receive complaints concerning it."
Similarly, if you Google the word ‘Jew', you may find results that Google described as "very disturbing". In explaining that the word "is often used in an anti-Semitic context", Google reiterated its stance that the opinions of Google or the general public don't influence search results.
Google is put in an awkward situation here. On one hand, if it starts removing search results based on taste, or feedback, or its own editorial instincts, it will soon be accused of censorship and of wielding excessive influence over the flow of information.
On the other hand, Google's plea of ‘don't shoot the messenger' becomes less convincing as it moves ever more towards being a content provider in its own right. Read on to hear about Google's latest foray into this field.