by Lamar Tyler
If you do a google image search for Michelle Obama you’ll probably be surprised by what you come up with. What you’ll find after doing a search on the first lady is an altered picture of Mrs. Obama with monkey-like features. Now after everything we’ve seen in the past year of the Obamas being in the White House this may not shock you to your core but what may still surprise you is that it seems like there is nothing Google can do or will do about the matter.
When brought to the attention of Google an employee stated that there was basically nothing they could do about it because it didn’t breach their code of conduct. Some searchers have found a disclaimer by Google upon searching that reads, “Sometimes Google search results from the Internet can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries. We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google.” While searching myself the very first time I entered the queries the picture came up in the first position. I ran the search about 9 more times and never saw it again.
BMWK, should Google remove images like this regardless of whether they breach their policies or not?
{Ms. P} says
Its sad that ignorance has internet access.
Tara says
I heard about this and the first thing I thought was, “How does Michelle” – yes we’re on a first name basis – “feel about this?”
I concluded (since I know her so well) that this type of thing probably disheartens her a little, not on a personal level, but for all the little black girls who look up to her and see what a good education and smart choices can do for you. She probably doesn’t let ignorance bother her and considers it something that comes with the territory.
Political Pete says
Hmmm.
While I don’t agree with the image, I am avidly against policing search engines from removing offensive images – an extreme example of this would be China … we see what happens when you try to censor the internet – they’ve already censored Obama’s comments about “information should be free and shared” from his speech. It’s important that we protect someone’s right to be wrong or to express an opinion – even if offensive or contrary to ours (even racism)…it’s an important liberty.
That being said, every rule has an exception. I think this is one of those rare exceptions where the company’s PR agent may find it in their best image to at least bump the search query down (the monkey image could be shown later) considering the MILLIONS of people who use and google Michelle Obama. (I checked this morning and it definitely does not come up anymore). I’m sure they wanted to avoid heat from the black community so they simply changed it. Someone deliberately tagged their page so it would come up first on Google. I have no qualms about the second google picture of George Bush biting a monkey (use google image and it will come up), but Google also has a PR responsibility to their users… if the Republicans gave them heat, they would probably change it. It’s not worth the fight.
So to answer your question
“Should Google remove images like this regardless of whether they breach their policies or not?”
I would say no, with rare exceptions (e.g., it’s okay for someone to express that Obama is Satan if they fill this way… with a picture of him with 666 on his forehead. It’s their free speech. But they may want to control the query language and what comes up first – because that can have an impact too considering the number of users. I definitely don’t think they should modify their policy. Once we get into what is offensive, there is a slippery slope.
Political Pete says
Article:
from Black Legal Issues
SAN FRANCISCO – Google Inc. is apologizing for a racially offensive image of the first lady that appears at the top of the list when users search for pictures of Michelle Obama on its site.
Google placed a text ad above the image titled “Offensive Search Results” that states “Sometimes our search results can be offensive. We agree.”
Users who then click on the ad are directed to a letter from Google that explains its results “can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries” but notes that Google doesn’t endorse content on these Web sites.
Google says its search formula relies on thousands of factors to rank a Web page’s importance, and says it doesn’t eliminate search results simply because of user complaints. However, Google says it will take down images in certain cases, such as when required by law to do so.
“We apologize if you’ve had an upsetting experience using Google,” the company wrote.
Mountain View, California-based Google also posted about the issue in a user support forum.
Spokesman Scott Rubin would not elaborate on how the image ended up as the number-one result for the first lady. He said the company did remove one site displaying the image from its results because it included viruses, which Google policy prohibits. But a different Web site later posted the same image, he said.
The White House declined to comment.
This is not the first time Google has apologized for content in its search results. The company issued a similar response in 2004 when the top result for the term “Jew” pointed to an anti-Semitic Web site.
© 2009 The Associated Press.
Jon says
How many images still appear showing George Bush as a monkey? Where’s everyone’s outrage about that?
And what’s next, is this image at https://nocompromisemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/michellebombsoutimage4.jpg going to banned because it looks too “monkey-like”
James says
This is offensive but all this fuss seems to be doing is making it more widespread as people like me google it wondering what all the fuss what about.
there are probably loads of posts making fun of or insulting loads of people in similar ways but without the ‘racist’ angle and this just seems like it would have been better just ignored as a post by a silly childish individual.
MissJay says
@Jon I agree with you. I understand that it’s racist and mean but there were plenty of images of W. Bush as a monkey and we (African Americans/Dems) were not all outraged. It’s gonna happen, and I’m not a big fan of double standards (as my husband will tell you LOL) so I’m not gonna get all worked up about it and go Google the image.
Political Pete says
But lets be clear. One of the benefits of having an organized minority is the ability to be unfair. Yes, people have the right to be wrong, but we also have the right to exercise their freedom of assembly and used their collective voice and influence business. Now that we have some semblance of outrage, I think we should utilize it in some situations… I don’t agree that this is one of them… but google changed it anyhow.
Anna says
BMWK, should Google remove images like this regardless of whether they breach their policies or not?
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I am one for “Freedom of Speech”, but some things are taken too far. This should have been removed out of respect for “Our First Lady”. It did not offend me when this was done to former President Bush only because he does not have “brown skin or identify as being African American” There is a difference between being politically correct and just plain stupid. I understand that everything is not black and white and there are areas of gray but doing the right thing vs something ignorate for shock value is not acceptable. I have been on other sites and ppl use this image of Michelle as their avitar/gravitar pic. Not sure why the owner of the site did not call them out on it, when most who frequent the site complained. I know that I am not living in La La Land and that racism exists but I have noticed so much more race issues since our President elect was chosen to be “Our Leader”.