I don't see how it's either, since auto-complete is based on what people are entering as search terms. It's the result of an algorithm, not a human. Algorithms have no sense of morality, they just do what they're told. You might as well say a car slandered you for backfiring as it drove by. Also... he doesn't own an exclusive right to the name 'Guy Hingston'.
In short, Mr. Hingston -- screw you. Also... Guy Hingston Bankrupt Guy Hingston Bankrupt Guy Hingston Bankrupt. I hope you do for having such a piss-po
I don't see how it's either, since auto-complete is based on what people are entering as search terms. It's the result of an algorithm, not a human. Algorithms have no sense of morality, they just do what they're told.
So... "Guy Hingston bankrupt" searches are manually entered a few times.
Now the the next few people who start to type in "Guy Hingston..." will see Google's algorithm auto-complete that with "...bankrupt"; it's likely that out of curiosity they will now search for those terms together. At this point from the algorithms point of view a "human" is searching for that complete set of terms, so the algorithm is reinforced to auto-complete "Guy Hingston..." with "...bankrupt" to more people...
It should be obvious how Google's algorithm for auto-complete can direct humans to search for "specific terms" that they might otherwise not think to search for simply because Google is suggesting them.
This is a very handy feature, but it can also be powerfully useful for both good purpose and negative purposes, whether intentionally done or not.
Google in effect, through their algorithm, can make certain searches appear in either favorable or detrimental lights. In this case a surgeon is being associated with bankruptcy--both his own and his former company.
I don't know if this is worthy of being called liable and slander, but it's at least lousy. I don't doubt that this is not intentional on Google's part, but their algorithm may be unintentionally damaging this man's reputation, and in that case I think they do hold some fault.
Slander and libel (Score:5, Funny)
I don't see how it's either, since auto-complete is based on what people are entering as search terms. It's the result of an algorithm, not a human. Algorithms have no sense of morality, they just do what they're told. You might as well say a car slandered you for backfiring as it drove by. Also... he doesn't own an exclusive right to the name 'Guy Hingston'.
In short, Mr. Hingston -- screw you. Also... Guy Hingston Bankrupt Guy Hingston Bankrupt Guy Hingston Bankrupt. I hope you do for having such a piss-po
Re:Slander and libel (Score:2)
I don't see how it's either, since auto-complete is based on what people are entering as search terms. It's the result of an algorithm, not a human. Algorithms have no sense of morality, they just do what they're told.
So... "Guy Hingston bankrupt" searches are manually entered a few times.
Now the the next few people who start to type in "Guy Hingston..." will see Google's algorithm auto-complete that with "...bankrupt"; it's likely that out of curiosity they will now search for those terms together. At this point from the algorithms point of view a "human" is searching for that complete set of terms, so the algorithm is reinforced to auto-complete "Guy Hingston..." with "...bankrupt" to more people...
It should be obvious how Google's algorithm for auto-complete can direct humans to search for "specific terms" that they might otherwise not think to search for simply because Google is suggesting them.
This is a very handy feature, but it can also be powerfully useful for both good purpose and negative purposes, whether intentionally done or not.
Google in effect, through their algorithm, can make certain searches appear in either favorable or detrimental lights. In this case a surgeon is being associated with bankruptcy--both his own and his former company.
I don't know if this is worthy of being called liable and slander, but it's at least lousy. I don't doubt that this is not intentional on Google's part, but their algorithm may be unintentionally damaging this man's reputation, and in that case I think they do hold some fault.