Google's Latest Race Storm

Anyone who has ever used Google (probably 100% of anyone reading this) will have no doubt witnessed the "autocomplete" feature at work when you type in your topic. It's simple, just start typing your search and you are offered suggestions based on what the most popular searches are at the moment. I'd be lying if I said I had never played around seeing what crazy things people may have been searching for.

Moving swiftly to the point, what if this functionality was being abused? Well try going to Google, typing the word "why" in the search bar and then see what you are presented with. You will find the following results...


Hmm...well what can you say about that? Well let's break it down.

Surely this is Google's fault and it's up to them to remove it? I'd say no. They have algorithms in place to determine what appears in their lists and if they start interfering with content then they will be acting against their own principles. I imagine a person or group of people have managed to work out how to work the system and use it in whichever way they choose....shame they couldn't have done something that was actually funny.

Does it stop there? Nope...type "why is there" and see what appears from that entry.

This isn't the first time Google have come under fire for having racist content on their front pages. Not too long ago their was a debate raging due to the first image appearing when searching for images of Michelle Obama being a photoshopped picture of her with a monkeys face.

There was also the email which went round for the "white people stole my car" incident where apparently Google was returning a suggestion of "did you mean black people stole my car?". If anyone bothered to check though this was a hoax and not true although that didn't stop hundreds and thousands claiming they would boycott Google as they are "racist".


On reflection i'd say yes someone has obviously been playing a joke. Is it funny? No. Yes I did laugh but it was more in amazement! Is it Google's fault? nah. We want freedom of speech don't we so if that's the way some people wish to use their skills it's an interesting reflection on them. Let's just hope there aren't too many impressionable youngsters out there who would easily believe this is serious.