Google is easily the best search engine on the Internet which uses a number of algorithms to refine and show closest results to a user’s query. But is it perfect? The answer is Big NO. Search Engine Land reports tell that the search engine giant resolves 5.5 billion user queries every day and around 2 trillion queries per year.
When there is such a large volume of queries to process, it is close to impossible for Google to give accurate results every time. However, an Indian user has got a complaint about Google search and it seems she is right.
While it has been earlier discussed that Google results are sometimes far from perfect, but this user found the results vulgar when she tried searching for “South Indian Masala”. When she put this query in Google Images, it generated a list of obnoxious photos of South Indian actresses. She then tried to change the query and searched “North Indian Masala” and results were perfect.
She then posted the snapshot of results on Twitter and requested Google CEO Sundar Pichai to look into the matter.
@Google @sundarpichai Do you have an answer for this? pic.twitter.com/hgrBdlsVcB
— Veneesa Carmel🇮🇳 #WithRG (@VenesaHermijil) July 6, 2017
Here’s the image;
@Google @sundarpichai Do you have an answer for this?
The user soon got the support from Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who quoted her tweet and wrote-
That's bizarre & disgraceful. @Google @sundarpichai can you explain — & fix? https://t.co/0MSylDtAYc
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 7, 2017
That’s bizarre & disgraceful. @Google @sundarpichai can you explain — & fix?
He again tweeted-
. @Google: results reflect understanding of intent as wellas user happiness w/previous results4such queries."Hindi Masala"gives film results https://t.co/62ciGYAceq
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 8, 2017
. @Google: results reflect understanding of intent as wellas user happiness w/previous results4such queries.”Hindi Masala”gives film results
The matter got the attention and reactions started flowing in. There were very few who criticised Google and many supported them. Instead they criticised content developers for mentioning south indian actresses as masala in web pages. Have a look-
1
That's machine learning for you! The society has trained Googles algorithms like that. Dont think its their fault!
— abhigya (@abhigya) July 7, 2017
2
https://twitter.com/SoheilKhanzada/status/883203216447590400
3
It's so sick on d part of @Google
— HUSNA SHAIKH حُسنہ (@Husnashaikh177) July 7, 2017
4
After the result of #southindianmasala by @Google
Search for INDIAN MASALA, it will show the actresses pics including @tamannaahspeaks pic.twitter.com/z8DlBLxcvj— Abhishek 🇮🇳 (@AbhiSkush) July 7, 2017
5
You can guess what "south indian figure" looks like. It's how people hv written about these topics, ignorant to call Google out pic.twitter.com/cUylQNWd8C
— Rough on Roughnecks (@prakar) July 7, 2017
6
Plz search with 'South Indian Spices' ..
— CleviiC (@cleviic) July 8, 2017
Don’t you think Google should do something about this? What’s your opinion on this?
