Google Gets Flak For Too Stringent Parent Filter
from the all-sides dept
Google had been getting a little bit of bad press here and there, but it seems like the whole Gmail thing opened the floodgates. Now, Declan McCullough is complaining that Google's SafeSearch feature is too stringent. SafeSearch is supposed to try to weed out adult content from the search engine, and it appears that Google's implementation is fairly simplistic - blocking out any domain that includes the word "sex," even when its part of something like PartsExchange or ArkansasExtermination.com. Basically, the story is that the SafeSearch technology is fairly weak, which is true of plenty of filters. Obviously, it's something that should be improved, but since no one is being forced to use it, it's unclear why this is so alarming. Besides, when asked, Google says they review sites that people bring to their attention as being inappropriately blocked. All this really is, is yet another example of why filters don't work very well - but if people want to use badly working filters, that's their choice.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
No Subject Given
Leave google alone!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
msykes
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
Just like Microsoft ...
it has become fashionable to attempt to cut down corporation that succeeds ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
default to safe search
Not that bad, but an inconvenience I could do without.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: default to safe search
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
WOW
[ link to this | view in chronology ]