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 ...
THAT’S HORRIBLE!!
How dare someone equate a public official with what appears to be some sort of smirking chimpanzee...!!!
it must be evil Republicans because democraps would never do that...
WHO asked or it to be removed?
Of course, WH operatives, rabid feminists, NARAL, SEIU, ACORN, MoveOn and Soros....ad infinitum.
I think ancient-drive may have gotten the pic in question.
This pic can no longer be found on google last I checked.
... in countries other than China.
OK- I think the award for the referenced pic goes to Null and Void and runner-up is Ancient Drive.
My point as well. The MSM automatically labels the pic racist but it is not; it is a ugly depiction parody of a Michelle Obama pic
She looks like a corpse, much like her husband’s political future.
I’m almost embarrassed to laugh, but that’s funny!
I don’t see what they are talking about.
I thought that pic was Nancy Pelosi...hmmmm
Oh for shame......
Maybe Google can get around to removing those distorted pics and images of Bush. If Bush’s distorted images are good enough to grace Google, be assured, Michelle’s are no freakin’ exception, unless of course, those seeking their removal throw the lame race card and even then, I would tell them to read sign language.
This is the first time I’ve seen a picture of either daughter, she’s cute. Mom...not so much.
You don’t understand, that picture isn’t racist cuz Bush is white.
What’s the problem anyway, most liberals think we evolved from apes?
Poor Michelle. People doing the google imagine search are sitting in front of their monitors, peering at the previews, to try to determine which one is distorted and which one is really her.
Kinda makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
I used your gif.
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