Nov 25, 2009 10:00 am US/Pacific
Google Sorry For Offensive Image Of Mrs. Obama
Web Company Gets Flack For Picture Of First Lady Michelle Obama
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS) ―
-
-
Google has apologized for an image appearing in their search results that depict first lady Michelle Obama in an offensive manner.
images.google.com
Poll
Google has apologized for an offensive image of Michelle Obama that appears in its search results. What's your take?
You need the latest Flash player to view our Poll.
Click here to download.
Click here to
bypass this detection if you already
have the latest Flash Player.
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.
The offensive image is doctored to make the first lady appear to look almost like a primate.
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.
A screen grab of the offensive image appearing in search results for images of Mrs. Obama were found on various Web sites. However, as of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the image appeared to no longer be appearing in Google search results using the term "Michelle Obama."
Mountain View, Calif.-based Google also posted about the issue in a user support forum. Another post in the forum titled, "
Why is the first image result of First Lady Michelle Obama in a Google image search a horribly racist caricature?" has drawn dozens of responses.
One commenter named "Crix" wrote:
How is it unreasonable asking that they conform to their own rules? Google does not allow anything and everything to appear in their search engine - they have rules against hate speech, images of child abuse, etc. Heck, they even have a history of dropping anti-Scientology sites. They can fix this problem, but choose not to, which indicates they really have no problem propogating and facilitating racists and hate-mongers. I wonder what their advertisers think of that?
Another commenter "fiberhiker" wrote:
Get over yourselves, you hypocrites. When George Bush was our sitting president, there were PLENTY of offensive pictures that came up on the Image Search on Google - yet, I'm sure you all thought that was just peachy, eh? Today, there are plenty of "offensive" images when you Google him as well - yet, no apology blurb by Google there, is there?
Spokesman Scott Rubin would not elaborate on how the image ended up as the number-one result for the first lady.
The Google letter says "a site's ranking in Google's search results relies heavily on computer algorithms using thousands of factors to calculate a page's relevance to a given query."
Rubin 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.
This is not the first time Google has apologized for content in its search results. The company issued a similar response in 2004 when the top result for the term "Jew" pointed to an anti-Semitic Web site.
Searching for other notable names, such as "
George Bush," for example brings up a crop of less-than-flattering doctored images of former President George W. Bush. The same goes for
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former Alaska Gov.
Sarah Palin.
As of this reporting, none of those images were linked to Google's explanation of the search results.
Google's Statement On Offensive Photos
An explanation of our search results.
Sometimes Google search results from the Internet can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries. We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google.
Search engines are a reflection of the content and information that is available on the Internet. A site's ranking in Google's search results relies heavily on computer algorithms using thousands of factors to calculate a page's relevance to a given query.
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. Individual citizens and public interest groups do periodically urge us to remove particular links or otherwise adjust search results. Although Google reserves the right to address such requests individually, Google views the integrity of our search results as an extremely important priority. Accordingly, we do not remove a page from our search results simply because its content is unpopular or because we receive complaints concerning it. We will, however, remove pages from our results if we believe the page (or its site) violates our Webmaster Guidelines, if we believe we are required to do so by law, or at the request of the webmaster who is responsible for the page.
We apologize if you've had an upsetting experience using Google. We hope you understand our position regarding offensive results.
Sincerely,
The Google Team
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Stars Rock The Grammys
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
