Google’s Neutrality
The neutrality of Google’s search results have come into question in recent times, as highlighted by Safiya Umoja Noble’s article regarding the misogyny and racism that she found in her results for the search “black girls.” Over many different computers and accounts she was shocked to find the first sites consistently listed to be pornographic in content (Bitch 38). With a search as broad as “black girls”, warranting sites as appalling as its results, it is more than fair to call Google’s algorithms into question.
Another example of the public’s distrust with Google has come quite recently. Controversy has swirled regarding the accused bias of search results of the two presidential candidates. Some believe that Google filters its results so that Clinton’s recent scandals are tough to find, while bad news about Trump is always the first to appear. If this is determined to be true, many ethical questions would arise, as Google’s influence is undeterminable in size (Breitbart).
Most Google users search on their favorite engine without too much thought of neutrality and bias, at least on a daily basis. We believe that with each search we submit, the most relevant information will appear, regardless of algorithms and the data that goes into providing each user with his or her result. The average user would likely define “balanced and reliable” search results as those that provide all potential results in order or relevance and significance, but this is clearly not the case for Google’s search results.
These kinds of results disallow Google’s users from broadening their knowledge via the internet. When algorithms pigeonhole users in their own search tendencies, it takes away the possibilities of users from accessing the internet’s vast information. In turn, this perpetuates ignorance and creates social divides.
Many believe that these qualities of Google are unethical, but we have not seen much effort by Google to correct their searches even after all of the controversy and complaints. Google has stuck by their algorithms, so every user needs to be careful and mindful when searching the web.
