Search Atlas Demonstrates Google Search Bias by Location
July 28, 2021
An article at Wired reminds us that Google Search is not the objective source of information it appears to many users. We learn that “A New Tool Shows How Google Results Vary Around the World.” Researchers and PhD students Rodrigo Ochigame of MIT and Katherine Ye of Carnegie Mellon University created Search Atlas, an experimental Google Search interface. The tool displays three different sets of results to the same query based on location and language, illustrating both cultural differences and government preferences. “Information borders,” they call it.
The first example involves image searches for “Tiananmen Square.” Users in the UK and Singapore are shown pictures of the government’s crackdown on student protests in 1989. Those in China, or elsewhere using the Chinese language setting, see pretty photos of a popular tourist destination. Google says the difference has nothing to do with censorship—they officially stopped cooperating with the Chinese government on that in 2010, after all. It is just a matter of localized results for those deemed likely to be planning a trip. Sure. Writer Tom Simonite describes more of the tool’s results:
“The Search Atlas collaborators also built maps and visualizations showing how search results can differ around the globe. One shows how searching for images of ‘God’ yields bearded Christian imagery in Europe and the Americas, images of Buddha in some Asian countries, and Arabic script for Allah in the Persian Gulf and northeast Africa. The Google spokesperson said the results reflect how its translation service converts the English term ‘God’ into words with more specific meanings for some languages, such as Allah in Arabic. Other information borders charted by the researchers don’t map straightforwardly onto national or language boundaries. Results for ‘how to combat climate change’ tend to divide island nations and countries on continents. In European countries such as Germany, the most common words in Google’s results related to policy measures such as energy conservation and international accords; for islands such as Mauritius and the Philippines, results were more likely to cite the enormity and immediacy of the threat of a changing climate, or harms such as sea level rise.”
Search Atlas is not yet widely available, but the researchers are examining ways to make it so. They presented it at last month’s Designing Interactive Systems conference and are testing a private beta. Of course, the tool cannot reveal the inner workings of Google’s closely held algorithms. It does, however, illustrate the outsized power the company has over who can access what information. As co-creator Ye observes:
“People ask search engines things they would never ask a person, and the things they happen to see in Google’s results can change their lives. It could be ‘How do I get an abortion?’ restaurants near you, or how you vote, or get a vaccine.”
The researchers point to Safiya Noble’s 2018 book “Algorithms of Oppression” as an inspiration for their work. They hope their project will bring the biased nature of search algorithms to the attention of a broader audience.
Cynthia Murrell, July 28, 2021
Google: API Promise, Circa 2021
July 27, 2021
If you are not familiar with “Google Data APIs Client Library (1.41.1),” it is worth a look. You will notice that there is a table of contents to:
- Deprecated Interfaces
- Deprecated Classes
- Deprecated Fields
- Deprecated Methods
- Deprecated Constructors
- Deprecated Enum Constants
An industrious online search wizard can locate other APIs consigned to the Google bit bin; for example, Transformics’ contributions and the much-loved Orkut (loved at least by some innovating individuals in Brazil and a handful of lawyers).
Fresh from this walk down API Memory Lane, navigate to “How Google Cloud Plans to Kill Its ‘Killed By Google’ Reputation.” The write up reports:
Under the new Google Enterprise APIs policy, the company is making a promise that its services will remain available and stable far into the future….The announcement is clear recognition of widespread feedback from Google Cloud customers and outright derision in several corners of the internet regarding Google’s historic reputation for ending support for its APIs without sufficient notice or foresight. The canonical example was probably the company’s decision to shutter Google Reader in 2013 with just a couple of months’ notice, which led to a torrent of criticism that persists today.
Google doesn’t want to leave any customer behind. How did that type of assertion work out for “No Child Left Behind”?
The “new” Google wants to be the “real” Google. That’s going to be a hill to climb with the Bezos bulldozer reworking the cloud landscape and Microsoft (the all time champion of great security) leveraging the brilliant individuals trying to use Excel and Word.
Yasmine El Rashidi allegedly said:
When you have a dream and someone makes promises they keep breaking, it is hard to recover. You lose hope.
What’s this mean for the ad supported Google? Will you promise to give a honest answer and provide factual back up? Yikes, your proof was in disappeared photos on a deprecated Google service. Thus, whatever you wish to say is meaningless at this time. Maybe there is a copy on Google’s never forget subsystem?
Stephen E Arnold, July 27, 2021
YouTube: Serving Consumers or Bullying?
July 26, 2021
Ycombinator included a comment from someone. That comment was flagged. However, the information in the original comment and the observations offered by Ycombinator users are interesting. The information reveals what I characterize as an escalating battle between those who view YouTube videos and YouTube itself. (I am not going to discuss the escalating tension between “creators,” YouTube, and the service Odysee.com.)
First, the Ycombinator item contains this statement:
YouTube is still not happy. Today when I opened the app on my phone, it still showed me an add. It is infuriating at least. This won’t probably make it, but I needed to share. https://imgur.com/a/BM7XoTe
So what? The flagged poster subscribed to YouTube and YouTube still displays advertisements.
Second, the comments include the tools which one can use to block YouTube’s charming and highly relevant, on point, information packed advertisements; for example:
Adguard
Arachnoid
Cercube
Invidious
SmartTube
Sponsorblock
uBlock Origin
Vanced
Third, the fact that YouTube is becoming a cable-tv like operation is interesting as well.
Net net: Do you hear that tick tock? Maybe it is spelled TikTok?
Stephen E Arnold, July 26, 2021
More Management and PR Deftness at the Google
July 23, 2021
I read “Google Leader Quits, Alleging Corporate Racism.” As a stellar American baseball professional allegedly said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” The allegedly accurate real news story stated:
Ashley Ray-Harris, a project leader for Google content creation, quit the company, saying in an email to Google that she experienced “some of the worst bureaucratic, corporate racism” that she “ever experienced.” “At a certain point I realized that even if you find a team that makes you feel welcomed, we still work within a company that views Black women as lesser than even as we sacrifice our mental health and work/life balance for this company,” Ray-Harris wrote in her resignation letter, which she posted to Twitter on Friday evening [July 16, 2021].
Several observations:
- Recruiters representing may have to some convincing in order to attract certain talented individuals.
- High school science club management principles are remarkably effective at generating publicity around high profile experts who quit on the very high school-centric service Twitter.
- SHRM might be able to do a session about the Google HR methods.
As the wise Yogi Berra allegedly said: “How can you think and hit at the same time?”
Another strike called.
Stephen E Arnold, July 23, 2021
Google Explains Censorship: Disambiguation Not Included
July 23, 2021
Navigate to this Google “documentation” page: “Abuse Program Policies and Enforcement.”
Now a quick exam to determine how Googley you are. Keep your answers brief because you don’t want to exceed Google storage limits.
What do these words mean?
- Sites
- Positive
- Abide
- Artistic
- Scientific
- Considerations
- Delete content
- Abuse.
I think these mean censorship. What do you think? More important, I assume, is what Google thinks. Wait, does Google think? It is a giant corporation which used its intellectual capabilities to craft what I call the Timnit Gebru strategy?
Stephen E Arnold, July 23, 2021
A Semi Interesting Comment: The Google and ab Assistive Device or Prop?
July 20, 2021
Big news zipping around. China and Facebook criticized by some in the US government. Another cyber threat intelligence company purchased by a cyber security specialist in order to — wait for it — become more cyber security capable. The Bezos blast. The Delta variant. Spoiled trip for some vacationers looking forward to a safari in Kruger National Park. And, who can overlook, the publicity implosion for a Israeli special services company?
I almost overlooked “Google Uses Its Dominance to Artificially Prop Up Products in New, Unrelated Sectors, Says a Former Senior Exec.” Please, keep in mind that you will have to pay to read this write up on the “real” news site Business Insider. Yikes, a Xoogler explaining that as he cashed paychecks, the outfit writing those checks gnawed at his conscience. Remarkable.
What jumped out at me other than a Xoogler criticizing the estimable Google.
First, the story is easily overlooked in the rush of tech-related news.
Second, the Xoogler who founded a for-fee (no ads yet) search engine allegedly said:
“It is not right for one company to take the massive profits generated in one area to artificially prop up and achieve dominant positions in other completely unrelated areas,” said Ramaswamy.
My hunch is that the Google might take issue with that statement. Opinions are still permitted, but the “real” words spoken by a former Google professional who cashed those Google checks might irritate some at the Google. What do you think?
Third, I found this statement interesting:
Insider approached Google for comment.
I assume that Google either did not get the call or email, didn’t want to respond, or simply did not care. Xooglers are no longer Googlers. When one is not a Googler, one is not a priority. No wonder the comment about “propping up” is not getting traction. I think the word I would suggest if some wizard at Google asked me about the comment is “synergy”; for example, synergy allows Google products and services to cooperatively interact to generate a combined effect greater than the sum of each component’s effect. Not a prop. Intentional synergism. MBAs and accountants understand this basic idea for maximizing return. Props are for theater majors.
Stephen E Arnold, July 20, 2021
Google and France: Whoa, Will Googlers Put That Trip to Provence on Hold?
July 13, 2021
Many news sources reported that the French government has put a price tag on Google’s content frivolities. The fine is in the neighborhood of $600 million. To put this in perspective, Google generates about $600 million a day in revenue, so no big deal.
CNBC’s “Google Hit with Record $593 Million Fine in France over News Copyright Battle” reports:
Google was ordered to present an offer of remuneration to publishers within two months, or risk facing fines of up to 900,000 euros per day.
From a practical point of view, Google will work out a plan. The plan will be discussed over numerous two-hour lunches, and then revised if warranted. If agreement is not reached, Google will seek redress in an appropriate manner. Google could write a check, threaten Apple-style to pull out of the country, or embrace the fascinating French legal system. Keep in mind that red tape is allegedly an invention of the Spanish has been a favorite method in France for centuries.
I found the Russian viewpoint interesting. “France slaps Google with Biggest Fine Ever of €500 Million for Failing to Comply with Copyright Rules” states:
The US company expressed upset at the French authority’s decision in a statement: “We have acted in good faith during the entire negotiation period. This fine does not reflect the efforts put in place, nor the reality of the use of news content on our platform.” The battle between Google and French publishers, including Agence France-Presse, has been going on since early 2020. Despite Google claiming that it has acted appropriately, French publishers insist that the company has used copyrighted articles and images without fairly paying the original authors under the EU “neighboring rights” rule. In February, Google was forced to pay out $76 million dollars to 121 French news outlets, with $22 million to be paid annually over three years.
The French fine might encourage other European Union entities to take a harder line with regard to what Google has been doing for the last 20 years. If that happens, the fines might consume a week or two of Google’s revenue. This begs the question, “What’s the point?” Either regulators take action that incentivizes different behavior at Google or just use the money, buy a good Beaujolais, rent a super yacht, and cruise to Antarctica to look at the big penguins.
Stephen E Arnold, July 13, 2021
Google Comix: Like Batman Sort Of
July 13, 2021
I read “Site Republishes Comics Strips Circulated Internally at Google.” I am not sure this is the type of humor which makes Google top dogs chuckle with delight. In fact, creating fungible evidence of Google foibles is probably a bad idea. The write up points out:
Goomics collects comics strips that went around inside Google. Many concern abstruse industry topics; some offer an insight on the company’s politics, inefficiencies and cultural problems.
Navigate to Goomics and here’s what was on display on July 9, 2021:
Laughing with tears in your eyes yet?
Google, like most of the technopolies, is a hoot. Take Google’s management handling of human resource issues related to ethical artificial intelligence. That phrase on its own is funny. Now visualize the set of the 1950 TV show “You Bet Your Life.” George Fenneman asks Groucho Marx: Would you work in Google artificial intelligence ethics unit? Groucho: Ethics? In AI? Audience laughs for 10 seconds.
One of the Goomics which caught my eye shows the Google motto “Don’t be evil” with the statement “Pray that nobody notices.” Once again, really funny. Evil? Ho ho ho.
And those Googlers. A hoot as I said.
Stephen E Arnold, July 13, 2021
How Do You Spell Control? Maybe Google?
July 8, 2021
The lack of a standardized format has made it difficult to manage vulnerabilities in open source software. Now, SiliconAngle reports, “Google Announces Unified Schema to Make Sharing Vulnerabilities Easier.” Writer Duncan Riley explains:
“Google LLC today announced a unified schema for describing vulnerabilities precisely to make it easier to share vulnerabilities between databases. The idea behind the unified schema is to address an issue with existing vulnerability databases where various ecosystems and organizations create their own data. As each uses its own format to describe vulnerabilities, a client tracking vulnerabilities across multiple databases must handle each separately. Because of the lack of a common standard, sharing vulnerabilities among databases is challenging. The new unified schema for describing vulnerabilities has been designed by the Google Open Source Security Team, Go Team and the broader open-source community and has been designed from the beginning for open-source ecosystems. The unified format will allow vulnerability databases, open-source users and security researchers to share tooling and consume vulnerabilities more easily across open source, providing a complete view of vulnerabilities in open source.”
Google also launched its Open Source Vulnerabilities database in February, describing it as the “first step toward improving vulnerability triage for developers and consumers of open-source software.” Originally populated with a few thousand vulnerabilities from the OSS-Fuzz project, the database is being expanded to open-source ecosystems Go, Rust, Python and DWF. These seems like moves in the right direction, but can we trust Google deliver objective, unfiltered reports? Or will it operate as it has with YouTube filtering and AI ethics staff management?
Cynthia Murrell, July 8, 2021
Institutional Knowledge: A Metric about the Google
July 6, 2021
I read an unusual “I left Google” essay called “Leaving Google.” I am not sure I understand how an apparently valued employee would find bureaucratic processes a reason for leaving what seems to be an okay job. You can read the write up by a Xoogler who worked at the mom-and-pop online ad company for 17 years.
I noted one factoid which struck me as quite interesting. Here it is:
At the time I left, out of ~150k employees, only ~300 had worked there longer than me.
That means that the institutional “knowledge” of Google, its thousands of technical components, its hundreds of thousands contracts, its millions of inter- and intra-process dependencies from the days of Backrub to the weirdness of solving death to the incredibly brilliant but Floc’ed solution to user tracking resides in exactly 0.1935 percent of the staff.
Perhaps some of Google’s more interesting behaviors, products, pronouncements, and personnel decisions have drifted from what the company was first engineered to deliver?
Questions:
- When a component buried deep in code created in 1999 goes wrong, who knows how to fix it?
- What if the issue cannot be fixed? What then?
- How much of modern Google is code wrappers slapped over something that mostly works?
- Are disconnects between engineering and marketing created by this loss of institutional knowledge?
I suppose one can use a Web search engine like Bing, Swisscows, or Yandex to seek answers. Google search is not particularly useful for this type of query.
Stephen E Arnold, July 6, 2021
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