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Racist photo of Michelle Obama appears as Google first search result in Google Images. The photo shown above is not the one causing the uproar. Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Racist Michelle Obama photo the first result in Google images, should Google remove it?
Google has apologized for a racist caricature of Michelle Obama that appears when someone types "Michelle Obama" into Google images. The image is a result of someone taking a photo of Michelle Obama and morphing her into a monkey. Although Google has apologized, they refuse to remove the photo from their search results.
The Washington Post reported on Google's so-called apology. "We apologize if you've had an upsetting experience using Google. We hope you understand our position regarding offensive results," Scott Rubin, Google spokesman explained further saying "Search results are a reflection of the content on the web. Our search results simply reflect what's out there," Also, "According to the way our algorithm works, when we try to deliver the most relevant search results based on other pages that link to it and so on, this is what is returned."
Why is Google refusing to remove the Michelle Obama photo?
According to Google "We do not remove a page from our search results simply because its content is unpopular or because we receive complaints concerning it. We will, however, remove pages from our results if we believe the page (or its site) violates our Webmaster Guidelines, if we believe we are required to do so by law, or at the request of the webmaster who is responsible for the page."
When you simply type it "Michelle Obama" in Google images you not only see the racist photo, but you also get a related search box that reads "Michelle Obama monkey".
The United States is a free country, and unlike China, does not control the internet. Google on the other hand, is a company that has a choice about what they allow to be appear in their search results. Google has the power to either remove this very offensive photo or simply make it not readily appear in the search results.
Do you think Google should make the photo disappear from image search results?
If you are searching for the offensive photo to see what the fuss is about, it's very easy to find. Colleen Starr chose not to directly link to the photo in question and help out the photos search ranking.
Comments
This is not the photo that caused so much furor. The furor-causing photo was one that had an image of a monkey Photoshopped onto a picture of Mrs Obama.
I want to see the photo
Our first lady is a beautiful classy woman. It's a shame that someone would put such an effort into vilifying a photo of her. I will keep my comments about patriotism to myself as I think the person who altered the image in question is unlikely to see the parallel.
Google is essentially an index of the internet -- you can find MUCH more offensive material searching on Google than the "monkey photo" posted by some dolt. Asking them to monitor the literally billions of webpages out there and remove anything that might be offensive to the First Lady is ridiculous. The day Google decides to become the arbiter of taste and censor "offensive" content is the day they cease to be the most popular search engine.
Tell me...How can a photo be "racist?"
It comes with the territory. If you don't want to be the object of hate, then don;t ever enter the public arena.
I also just saw an imgae of George Bush as a chimp...Did you cover that?
The hell? "Racist photo of Michelle Obama, pictured here, appears as Google first search result in Google Images." "The photo shown here is not the one causing the uproar. "
...
Also, no. Why in the world should the photo be removed? Thousands of famous people get photoshopped into offensive or odd things and nobody gives a flying [bleep].
Stop playing the race card all the time
The photo is not racist - it is a PHOTO!!!
However, I believe that the SUBJECT of the photo is racist.
This is a story? What a lame attempt to garner sympathy to improve Obama's ratings. It's not going to work at least not among intelligent people.
I seen this photo a year ago, as the poster before me stated. This is only a story because Obama's ratings are tanking.
The photograph of Michelle Obama is racist! It shows here face turned into a monkey. It is a known fact that African Americans have been called monkeys in a derogatory manner.
Bush being a chimp may insult his intelligence, but not his race. Even is Bush's face was put on a cracker it still will not have the same racial meaning.
Karma will come back to those who take their time to make such a horrible photograph.
I am an idiot, ignore my comment.
Seriously its ok to compare Bush to Hitler and the Chimp, but when we do it to Obama its wrong? Because of Obama's skin color he should be held to a easier standard? And I'm the racist? If you truly think skin color doesn't matter than either both comparison's are unacceptable or they both are acceptable.
Why is the count going backwards it was at 119 yes and now 118. Hmm, trying to fudge the results?
I apologize it was 119 no now 118, I can admit I am wrong, can the Obama voters?
It doesn't look like a monkey. It looks like black Joan Rivers and you don't hear her complaining.
Tom,
I can assure you that I cannot magically change the poll results.
Obama's falling approval rating seems to indicate that some are not happy with the choice they made by voting for him.
I never said your the one that changed the polls results, I am just mentioning what I noticed. I don't know what you want me to say? Its what I noticed, its a fact.
Go Obama, Free health care, big houses, 5 cars, we all deserve it, sure we can't afford it, who cares our children will pay for it.
Tom- Sometimes online polls get a bit wacky. The polls always seem to correct themselves fairly quickly.
:)
Don't worry, Obama said have hope Jimmy, he's Jesus reincarnated. He can turn one fish into hundreds, for free. Anyways who cares about my kids, I rather support the crack heads.
Sure Colleen, you seem like a nice person, so I'll take your word for it.
Tom-
What do you think about Lou Dobbs possibly running for president in 2012? Off topic a bit, but I'm curious.
Hahaha, he won't win, lets leave it at that. But I know what your trying to do by bringing that up. You can do better than that.
"Go Obama, Free health care, big houses, 5 cars, we all deserve it, sure we can't afford it, who cares our children will pay for it."
Huh? Isnt that what happened with the credit drunken America under the highly bought-by-corporate-greed, quasi-free market psuedo "conservatives" that were in the white house for the past 8 years? Have you been sleeping for all of this time? Learn to read and pull you biased, uninformed head out of your dwindling assets...
Obama is an alien just watch the TV series "V". There's your sign.
Tom- No really I was just curious. I had just listened to someone putting him on a pedestal.
The fervor of this debate, like every other in this country, always deteriorates to 2 sides. One will never see the other. That conservative leadership cry foul after the downright ugliness and lies they have perpetuated for years in an attempt to instill fear in and control of "real conservative Americans" who naively believe that their leadership is just like them, is far more sad than the unveiling of America's still dirty little secret.
Ok Colleen, to entertain you a bit, he won't win because he's to one sided, even though many Americans are against illegal immigration which is Dobbs number one mission, they don't see that as the most important issue. There is a lot more I can say, but lets keep it simple.
Just one more thing, even if Americans want to stop illegal immigration, if they feel a politician is using that as a rallying cry, that he might take things to the extreme. If you catch my drift.
Sorry, my niece is distracting me, I meant to say they feel that he might
Tom- TI believe you are correct. He could never win because of his well known stance on immigration issues.
Please tell me you do not want Palin to run.
God no Collen, to be honest she was slaughtered unfairly by the media, I do truly believe she is a sweet person, I just don't trust her intelligence.
Being a good hearted person, doesn't make you a good President, Obama is proof of that, even though he's way smarter than Palin.
I knew you were far to intelligent to be a Palin backer.She has been slaughtered by the media. I believe some of it was totally unfair and some she just set herself up for.
We have scratched Palin and Dobbs off the 2012 republican list.
Is Tom running in 2012? :)
Hahaha Colleen, you are a very interesting person I'll give you that, I can tell we don't agree on many issues, but either way my hats of to you. To be honest this is not the proper venue to get into to much detail unfortunately because its easy to be misunderstood with such short posts. However I look forward to your articles.
So far, I don't see a good candidate for the Republican party, I am a huge Ron Paul supporter, (but I have to be realistic)
Fair enough Tom. I will keep my eyes peeled for the 2012 Tom PAC. Ron Paul believes that he could win. Keep the faith.
Colleen, that's a low blow, but ok if thats how you want to end it.
Tom, I was joking with you since you were being somewhat mysterious.
Doubt it, but Ill give you the benefit of the doubt.
Tom - I was. A republican president seems a likely possibility if Obama's rating stay on the current path. The American public may not give him the opportunity to spend eight years in office.
Hmmm, that is hard to predict, the winds are blowing GOP, but I don't think the GOP can produce a strong candidate. I believe the American people will want to keep a check and balance somehow. So either a GOP president and Democrat congress. Or a Democrat president and a GOP congress. I am not saying it will be like that, but the American people will try to vote in a way to make it like that.
Point is majority of voters, don't trust either party for their own reasons. For one I am excited. I am tired of the two party system.
I know what you mean Tom, I hope the liberals split off from the Democrats, and the Tea party from the Republicans.
This is not about Michelle Obama but about ranking manipulation.
If I manipulate the search result so that the Airbus image is displayed when you search for Boeing, Google will pull it.
; ) ; )
What's up with the deleted comments? 30 just vanished, I read them and there was nothing wrong with them, at least not if you respect freedom of speech
NVM there back, bad browser probably
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