A week or so ago, we reported that a search in Google images for Michelle Obama returned a racist image. The image was offensive, racist and has been removed from the search results – which is what I was hoping for. But Google responded to the thread and explained that they normally do not change the search results unless:

(1) It violates our Webmaster Guidelines
(2) If Google believes they are required to do so by law
(3) Or at the request of the webmaster who is responsible for the image

I am not sure if this image fell under any of those three conditions. Google was not clear if it did, nor did they specifically say which this case fell under. I don’t think it violated the Webmaster Guidelines, I don’t think the image was “illegal,” and I doubt the webmaster asked to have the image taken down. I can be wrong on all of these points, but I am not sure.

Here is Google’s full response:

Am I missing something? Why did Google take it down? Did the White House force them to by making it a legal matter? Maybe the site was indeed in violation of the webmaster guidelines? The site itself is still live, so I am not sure.

Google is clear that they do not remove offensive, racist or anti-semitic from the search results. I am just confused in this case. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely happy the result was removed – but was this only done because she is the First Lady?

Forum discussion continued at Google Web Search Help.

Update: Google Buys Add For Offensive Michelle Obama Image Result.