A new investigations found that Google is manipulating search algorithms in some terrifying ways. Including prioritizing large businesses over the smaller ones, removing autocomplete results that involve sensitive topics, and even outright blacklisting various websites. When reached for a response to the investigation, a Google spokesperson offered the following statements:
"We have been very public and transparent around the topics covered in this article, such as our Search rater guidelines, our policies for special features in Search like Autocomplete and valid legal removals, our work to combat misinformation through Project Owl, and the fact that the changes we make to Search are aimed at benefiting users, not commercial relationships. This article contains a number of old, incomplete anecdotes, many of which not only predated our current processes and policies but also give a very inaccurate impression of how we approach building and improving Search. We take a responsible and principled approach to making changes, including a rigorous evaluation process before launching any change - something we started implementing more than a decade ago. Listening to feedback from the public is a critical part of making Search better, and we continue to welcome the feedback."
It turns out that this "conspiracy theory" is in fact true. When a giant private company like Google allows pressure from politicians to change the way it does business, our freedoms are at risk. The Wall St Journal investigation will no doubt give a boost to efforts by 50 state attorneys general currently looking into an anti-trust action against the tech giant that is Google.
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