Google won't exclude distorted Michelle Obama image from search

[scandal 951]

Here is the image in question:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-goog...5,0,98932.story

Google won't exclude distorted Michelle Obama image from search

'We have, in general, a bias toward free speech,' a Google spokesman says, explaining that offensiveness alone is not a reason to remove the image from the search index.

By David Colker

November 24, 2009 | 8:42 p.m.

A crudely altered photograph of Michelle Obama, which often comes up as the first result on a Google image search of her name, will not be removed from the company's search process despite protests that the depiction is racist and repugnant.

"It's offensive to many people, but that alone is not a reason to remove it from our search index," Google Inc. spokesman Scott Rubin said Tuesday. "We have, in general, a bias toward free speech."

The image, which depicts the first lady as having monkey-like features, is posted without explanation on a blog called "Hot Girls" -- which also contains several legitimate photographs of Obama.

Although Google won't alter the process that places the offending image among its top results, the company placed a house advertisement with the headline "Offensive Search Results" above the picture. Clicking the ad leads to a statement that says, in part, "We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google."

[rsn 135]

Well they caved in to foreign government pressure to self-censor in years past, but maybe there is some hope left for Google.

[slim 1,533]

I love that quote - "We have, in general, a bias toward free speech." OUTSTANDING!!!!

I don't like the picture, but then again, I don't like it when people burn the flag either. Should we get rid of something just because we don't like it?

[Niels Bohr 72]

When they are in another jurisdiction that has no protection against free speech, they have to succumb to their laws.

[Nagishkaw 510]

0i.

[tallcoolone 102]

I must say it's a pretty darn funny picture.

She is one Ugly Woman for sure

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmm....I like blondes.

[Pooky 3,930]

I must say it's a pretty darn funny picture.

She is one Ugly Woman for sure

But not a patch on Cherie Blair in the fugliness stakes.

And that photo is not retouched

[rsn 135]

When they are in another jurisdiction that has no protection against free speech, they have to succumb to their laws.

No, they don't. They chose to.

[Niels Bohr 72]

They really didn't want to choose. They were forced due to government of China planning on an indefinite ban on google. Heck, they even fought but to no availability. Even with Thailand, google fought, but to no availability.

[Ban Hammer 14,638]

if they did, they should exclude pics of gwb as a monkey too.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I love that quote - "We have, in general, a bias toward free speech." OUTSTANDING!!!!

I don't like the picture, but then again, I don't like it when people burn the flag either. Should we get rid of something just because we don't like it?

QFT

Google did have a choice with regards to china. They had the choice to make a moral decision or a business decision.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

if they did, they should exclude pics of gwb as a monkey too.

that's different. GWB wasn't married to the Messiah.

[The_Dude 1,142]

if they did, they should exclude pics of gwb as a monkey too.

that's different. GWB wasn't married to the Messiah.

Did Joseph&Ana log onto your account and post? That is really that dumb.