Google apologises for racist Michelle Obama image

Ziggy · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:44

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolo...icature-in-Michelle-Obama-search-results.html

Google has apologised after a racist caricature of Michelle Obama became the top result for users searching for pictures of the US First Lady.

The search: http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=michelle obama&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

:eek:

Don't really think they need to apologize though.

matthewhotdude · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:47

I dont see it

unknownsock · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:47

Yea what animal? :rolleyes:

jp_bl_68 · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:48

matthewhotdude · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:48

Ooops I nearly said the M word

Dark_Angel · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:48

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18083122

ntg · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:48

I don't understand why they need to apologise for that. It's just a consequence of a mathematical algorithm that someone seems to have been abusing. They can't be expected to tweak and turn their algos to avoid idiots playing around with them (only when it comes to celebrities or public faces though, who cares about you or me who might be defamed in such a way).

It's just media rubbish I say.

Fenris · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:48

matthewhotdude said:
I dont see it

Only shows up is safe search is on.

This was neither googles fault or responsibility, they should not have been preasured into this.

Ziggy · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:49

Dark_Angel said:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18083122

D'oh.

Nitefly · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:49

I'm sure they haven't been pressurised into anything.

An apology is free. More publicity is priceless.

Steveo1982 · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:50

Oh dear.

Fenris · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:52

Nitefly said:
I'm sure they haven't been pressurised into anything.

Wife of most powerful man in the world.

If that isn't preasure I don't know what is.

Ziggy · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:56

Guardian reports that the blog author has removed it and apologised: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/25/michelle-obama-google-images-removed

Michelle Obama 'racist' picture that is topping Google Images removed

Hot Girls website apologises over 'monkey' picture that had been appearing at the top of Google Images searches

Also like how The Guardian link directly to a blog called "Hot Girls."

starfighter · 25 Nov 2009 at 13:57

They haven't edited it or removed it, Respect to Google.

This aint china, the Internet should be free, don't like it, don't look.

TheMightyTen · 25 Nov 2009 at 14:02

Fenris said:
Wife of most powerful man in the world.

If that isn't preasure I don't know what is.

Which some would argue makes her the MOST powerful person in the world

jakeke · 25 Nov 2009 at 14:03

Surely this has just brought attention to something that barely anybody would have seen anyway (in comparison)

The Dread Pirate · 25 Nov 2009 at 14:06

jakeke said:
Surely this has just brought attention to something that barely anybody would have seen anyway (in comparison)

Actually no Google lists things in order of their popularity and I'm sure now this story has been released that Image is going to be there for a lot longer.

998cc · 25 Nov 2009 at 14:11

Thats a good photoshop.

asim18 · 25 Nov 2009 at 14:24

C.P said:
Thats a good photoshop.

Uncanny isn't it!

Dark_Angel · 25 Nov 2009 at 14:44

She looks more like a mummy than anything in that image, all she is missing in the bandages...

I think it's how the skin looks / gaunt the cheeks are. I don't know why, but she looked more like the living dead!