Introduction to the Discussion on Big Tech Censorship

The topic of big tech censorship has been a subject of intense debate and scrutiny in recent years. While the United States’ federal and state governments are generally barred from directly censoring the internet under the First Amendment, there are allegations that Google and other tech giants are implementing their own forms of content control. This article delves into the specifics of Google censorship, focusing on the policies that may contribute to an apparent bias in search results, particularly concerning conservative publications.

Google as a Business

It should be noted that Google’s actions, similar to any other business, are motivated by the need to ensure a successful operation. As a leading search engine, Google lays down guidelines and enforces them to maintain the quality and relevance of its service. Stating that Google censors content is not equivalent to government censorship. The same analogy can be drawn to any other company setting rules and policies for its operations, such as a newspaper or a social media platform.

The Case of Breitbart and Google Censorship

A case in point is the alleged censorship by Google against conservative online publications. Websites like Breitbart News, The National Pulse, The Drudge Report, Newsbusters, The Bongino Report, and Human Events have reported that their content is frequently absent from Google search results. Let us examine one such example to clarify the matter.

Example: Michael Flynn and Breitbart

During a test, when searching 'Michael Flynn' on Google, no results from Breitbart News Network were found. This is noteworthy given that there are multiple articles on Breitbart about Michael Flynn. When the search term was refined to 'Michael Flynn Breitbart,' the first three results were indeed Breitbart articles. It took several more pages to discover any other article besides Breitbart's, and even then, the only non-Breitbart result was a Twitter page. This discrepancy seems to suggest deliberate censorship.

Verify the Assertions

To ensure the validity of these claims, let us explore whether these results are deliberate. Testing the search on Bing revealed that Breitbart news appeared on the fourth page, which is more comprehensive than results from Google. For comparison, the allure of CNSN (originally CNBC) was tested. CNBC appears on the first page of Google results, which raises questions about the ranking.

Critique of Alexia Rankings

Alexa ranks websites based on their global Internet engagement, and Breitbart holds a rank of 248, which is comparable to CNBC’s 267, despite content from CNBC appearing prominently on Google results. Another instance illustrates this further; a random article from Hawaii News and Honolulu Star-Advertiser, with an Alexa ranking of 25,706, appeared on the first page of Google results, which is notably below Breitbart's Alexa rank. This inconsistency hints at a potential bias against conservative media in Google’s search algorithm.

Conclusion and Future Considerations

The discussion on Google censorship is complex and controversial. It is crucial to acknowledge the distinction between government censorship and corporate policy. While the First Amendment protects against government interference, the actions of big tech companies can significantly impact the visibility and spread of certain types of content. Understanding and addressing these biases is essential for ensuring a fair and diverse internet environment.

Keywords: Google censorship, conservative media, search engine bias