Google Grapples with Intolerant Images

- Wednesday, November 11, 2009Security

Google has become embroiled in the latest race-row

Google has become embroiled in the latest race-row, involving an offensive image of U.S. First-Lady Michelle Obama.

Two weeks ago a search for Michelle Obama would return a digitally modified, racially offensive image of Mrs Obama on the first page of Google Images results.

Following public outrageá-áand in a rare move - Google removed the image from search results. The image has since re-appeared at various locations on the internet. At the time of writing an image search for "Michelle Obama" still returns the offensive image.

Google has responded with a Google AdWords advertisement appearing above such searches. The advertisement reads "Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree.". Google also links search visitors to a document explaining their search content.

The current debacle highlights the inherent risks of automatically generated online content.

To fill the gap between net neutrality and vulnerable users, Smoothwall recommends the use of Google's SafeSearch option to filter explicit results. Smoothwall's Deep URL analysis technology assists customers by blocking image results from websites in other categories, such as Intolerance. Meanwhile, the Force SafeSearch capability can enforce safe searching for internal user groups.

More information can be found here:

• BBC News coverage
• Google's explanation