googles great dilemma (lawyers, controversial, death, money)

[nickerman]

Google has always claimed to be for an open and free internet. True to their words you can find anything by using the Google search engine. You can find an ISIS web site, pedophile sites, and even web sites that show how to make bombs. But then a few months ago a post in the history section of the notorious Stormfront web site brought pressure from outside Google to remove the post. The title of the post that they wanted removed was Top Ten Reasons Why the Holocaust Didn't Happen. It was going to the top of the google search engine when the word holocaust was typed into the Google search box. The post had over 800,000 hits which made it one of the top titles. The first response to the outside pressure to remove the post was Googles response saying they could not remove the post because to remove the post would contradict their policy of an open and free internet service. But the increasing pressure on Google finally made Google relent and agree to remove the post by claiming that the post was teaching people how to argue the denial that the holocaust had happened. At that point a law suit could have been brought against Google for denial of the freedom of the press since all the OP was doing was stating his reasons why he believe that the holocaust did not happen. So Google re-did their algorithm so the controversial post wouldn't come up. But when Google redid their algorithm they compromised their policy of an open and free internet service and they lost credibility because now they have become a service where political correctness is essential to having a persons post accepted to be posted. From there on Google handled things the only way that they could and was by burying the issue hoping that it would become a non issue. Few people have probably heard about this. But Googles motto should have been a Voltaire quote: "I disagree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it."

[rstevens62]

I dont think Google cares one way or another, as long as people are using their search engine, topic doesnt matter.

I used to work for a chain pizza place, a porn video store was planning to move in and people were up in arms about it, our owners told us to only say 'NO comment' if media ever asked our opinion, the corp office said we want the people for the new store AND those against the store to buy pizza from us.

[Nattering Heights]

Anything that needs money to run or generates profit doesn't stay open and free. Business expenses accumulate, lawsuits, lawyers, news pushes public opinion, investors crowd in, etc. Google's vast profits and tax dodges say enough about the free part.

Edit: the present and future of the internet will be debated until it ends, but just Google seems too specific for Great Debates.