Comments on: Google: “Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree.” http://copyrightcommerceandculture.com/2009/11/24/google-sometimes-our-search-results-can-be-offensive-we-agree/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed E59.1405, The Media, Culture, and Communications Department at the Steinhardt School of Education at NYU Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:59:45 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: ebm16 http://copyrightcommerceandculture.com/2009/11/24/google-sometimes-our-search-results-can-be-offensive-we-agree/comment-page-1/#comment-127 ebm16 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:06:02 +0000 http://copyrightcommerceandculture.com/?p=632#comment-127 I agree that it would be detrimental for Google to begin sorting and censoring its results. While this instance might be a clear case of the image being contentious and non-representative, many instances could arise that would be much less straightforward. Were Google to become open to requests to remove results, there would inevitably be organizations that would abuse that possibility and fight for certain search results to be removed or featured based off individual agendas. Google’s only responsibility is to present as unbiased and accurate search results as possible. The prevention of Google bombs is the equivalent of fighting spam, while any measures that can be taken to make it more difficult for Google Bombs to be effective should be taken, that is a separate issue, and beginning to censor results that appear unrepresentative is not the solution. The solution has to focus on the root of the problem, preventing it from happening, rather than being a band-aid placed on top in the form of censorship. I agree that it would be detrimental for Google to begin sorting and censoring its results. While this instance might be a clear case of the image being contentious and non-representative, many instances could arise that would be much less straightforward. Were Google to become open to requests to remove results, there would inevitably be organizations that would abuse that possibility and fight for certain search results to be removed or featured based off individual agendas. Google’s only responsibility is to present as unbiased and accurate search results as possible. The prevention of Google bombs is the equivalent of fighting spam, while any measures that can be taken to make it more difficult for Google Bombs to be effective should be taken, that is a separate issue, and beginning to censor results that appear unrepresentative is not the solution. The solution has to focus on the root of the problem, preventing it from happening, rather than being a band-aid placed on top in the form of censorship.

]]> By: elizabethshelby http://copyrightcommerceandculture.com/2009/11/24/google-sometimes-our-search-results-can-be-offensive-we-agree/comment-page-1/#comment-125 elizabethshelby Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:17:36 +0000 http://copyrightcommerceandculture.com/?p=632#comment-125 I checked googleimages as soon as you posted this and the monkey image was still there. Today, I googleimaged "Michelle Obama" again and the image is gone. I wonder if Google intentionally removed it? I checked googleimages as soon as you posted this and the monkey image was still there.

Today, I googleimaged “Michelle Obama” again and the image is gone. I wonder if Google intentionally removed it?

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