Posted on 11/24/2009 8:15:47 PM PST by Steelfish
Google Won't Remove Distorted Michelle Obama Image From Search Engine
November 24, 2009
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 spokesman Scott Rubin said. "We have, in general, a bias toward free speech."
The image, which depicts the first lady as having monkey-like features, is posted on a blog called "Hot Girls" without explanation. The blog post also contains several legitimate photographs of Michelle Obama. (The image is also posted on other sites that get high spots.)
Although Google won't alter the search result process that places the offending image in top spots, the company placed a house advertisement above it with the headline, "Offensive Search Results." Clicking on the ad takes the user to a statement that says, "We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google."
The statement apologizes "if you've had an upsetting experience using Google," but it states that a site is not removed from its process unless the content is illegal or violates the company's webmaster guidelines. Rubin said there was nothing in the guidelines that deals with this kind of imagery.
Google has posted similar statements in rare instances, most notably in 2004 when searches on "Jew" resulted in the top spot going to a virulently anti-Semitic site. Rubin said the statement is sometimes used in situations when there are "offensive search results on an innocuous query."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Does anyone has a post of this pic? “Monkey-like features”? Holy cow.
I don’t remember them having the hiccups about President Bush’s photochopped monkey pix...
Today.
(just kidding, I did this one)
Without her team of make-up artists, this is probably what she really looks like.
Michele, no matter what you want to look like on the outside, it is the inside that matters. You are just as EVIL as your husband. So don’t worry about how you want to look or look - you have an UGLY heart.
Good grief! That is a true ancient drive-by!
Pick one...
WHO asked or it to be removed?
The link to the location mentioned in the aticle:
I don’t see that one, but there’s the Aunt Esther pic and the one of her and Bam standing in front of a graphic that says “Fox” ;-)
They didn't remove this one either, so don't get your panties in a bunch, Mr Colker.
How does anyone on either side think things like this advance their cause?
that is just tacky, I say remove it.
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