The search engine that rules the world wide web, Google, is under fire because of a racist caricature of First Lady Michelle Obama that comes up has the first result for ‘Michelle Obama’ image search. Google explains their search engine works with an algorithm that takes many different variables in account.

“We apologize if you’ve had an upsetting experience using Google. We hope you understand our position regarding offensive results. Search results are a reflection of the content on the web. Our search results simply reflect what’s out there,” Google spokesman Scott Rubin explained. “According to the way our algorithm works, when we try to deliver the most relevant search results based on other pages that link to it and so on, this is what is returned.”

“A site’s ranking in Google’s search results relies heavily on computer algorithms using thousands of factors to calculate a page’s relevance to a given query,” the statement goes on to say. “The beliefs and preferences of those who work at Google, as well as the opinions of the general public, do not determine or impact our search results.”

The Google team uses the house ad to hold the image at arm’s length. “Sometimes Google search results from the Internet can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries. We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not in any way endorsed by Google,” the statement says.

Google is trying to use different strategies to make sure the general public understands that it does not have anything to do with which images appear in our searches and is now using an ad right on top of the offensive image to explain it. What I find absolutely unbelievable is the fact that Google offers ‘Michelle Obama Monkey’ as related search keywords. How ironic!?!