« Yahoo! Updates Instant Messenger | Main | Business Innovation »
April 27, 2004
Google and Censorship
Until a couple of days ago when you searched for the word 'Jew' in Google you received as No1 result a 'Jewish conspiracy' antisemitic site. Today when you do the same search you get this:
The offensive site has been removed from the results and a Google explanation on why the results are the way were appeared. In the explanation page you will find Google explaining its algorithm and talks about the semantics behind the word 'Jew':
'If you use Google to search for "Judaism," "Jewish" or "Jewish people," the results are informative and relevant. So why is a search for "Jew" different? One reason is that the word "Jew" is often used in an anti-Semitic context. Jewish organizations are more likely to use the word "Jewish" when talking about members of their faith. The word has become somewhat charged linguistically, as noted on websites devoted to Jewish topics...'
All is fine up to hear and I am very happy to see this explanation by Google. However, I am more than unhappy to see the censorship of the results pages with the removal of the offensive website. I do not see any reason in this or any other case on why this censorship is a good thing and I certainly see no reason why Google should place itself in such a situatioon at the moment. I am definitely very dissapointed with this decision that Google has taken (and my dissapointment has nothing to do with the contents of the offending website in case we are misunderstood in this).
As we have done again in a past posting I am repeating the words of Benjamin Franklin: 'They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety'.
Rugles - Website Marketing Services
Posted by Basileios at April 27, 2004 05:46 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.rugles.com/mty/mt-tb.cgi/360