Blocked google searches

the_raven_group · #1 (**permalink**) 05-27-2008, 11:15 PM

Does Google have a policy toblock certain sites from its search results? I can find certain sites with yahoo, ask or my search funds which do not appear on a google search. This is very strange as my search funds actually uses google to carry out the search.

Any ideas?

hwang · #2 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 11:53 AM

Google blocking sites? I never knew they are doing that. Which site and what criteria are they using? It's most probably that the sites haven't been crawled by the search engine yet and not because they are blocking it.

liowkc · #3 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwang

Google blocking sites? I never knew they are doing that. Which site and what criteria are they using? It's most probably that the sites haven't been crawled by the search engine yet and not because they are blocking it.

Hwang is probably right regarding websites. But it is possible to block blogs that are "flagged" as undesirable by many surfers. The only way to assess such blogs will be typing in directly the url.

the_raven_group · #4 (**permalink**) 05-28-2008, 07:39 PM

Well friend was doing internet research fro his PHd thesis on terrorism and the internet so maybe its not surprising that his searches have been blocked! Hopefully the CIA or MI5 aren't carrying him off to Guantanimo Bay right as I type.

hwang · #5 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 04:25 PM

I don't get you. How does he know his searches get blocked in the first place. How do they know your intention based on the words that you have typed in? I never knew google is doing that.

the_raven_group · #6 (**permalink**) 05-30-2008, 05:08 PM

Because on one search engine he typed the web address in and the desired website came up straight away. He did the same on Google later in the day and it returned no search results. So, thinking the website may have been banned or closed down, he searched for it using other search engines such as Yahoo, Ask, Lycos and it turned up.

liowkc · #7 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 01:08 AM

This is how it happens. Many people deemed the blog "objectionable" and flag it, Google take the easy way out, instead of outright ban, it just make it invisible to google search. Kind of censorship by the mob with google providing the tool.

hwang · #8 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 04:58 AM

Uh ok. I get your idea based on your explanation. I think it could be true as well. It's good to hear that google is doing that. Hmmm....That would help like a net censorship.

the_raven_group · #9 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 11:24 PM

Can Google legally censor internet content? Surely they could also use this tool to censor any criticism of their own services and policy. In my humble opinion it is a bad sign when comment is blocked. Doesn't anyone remember Voltaire " I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it"

Antster · #10 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 06:08 PM

Ah, Voltaire.
My favourite quote from him is, 'Every man is guilty of the good he did not do.'
But, coming back on topic, Google probably do that to maintain their reputation.
Otherwise it would be on Youtube, named 'Google says Google sucks' or something of the sort.

titaniumhijau · #11 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 12:06 AM

I don't think google easily to get blocked..

liowkc · #12 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 04:30 PM

Voltaire did not say those famous words, Raven.

What Google did is strictly not censorship, just rule by the mob.

the_raven_group · #13 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 05:29 PM

Trust me I have two history degrees voltaire did say those words. He also said "I have no morals yet i am a very moral person" but probbably his best and clearly not aimed at the US Military (pardon the pun) "God does not march on the side of the big battalions, but ont he side on the best shots".