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The article “Hard-Coding Bias in Google "Algorithmic" Search Results”, by Harvard professor Benjamin Edelmen, presents strong evidence that Google is intentionally manipulating search results despite promises to the contrary. Unlike Alejandro Diaz’s argument of algorithmic biases in “Through the Google Goggles: Sociopolitical Bias in Search Engine Design” (http://epl.scu.edu/~stsvalues/readings/Diaz_thesis_final.pdf), this article demonstrates deliberate placement of links to Google services at the top of search results. In some ways Edelman’s examples seem obvious, but his article still raises the question: are Google’s actions “wrong”? To help answer this question there are a few points to consider not presented in the article:
But even when considering these points, are Google’s (or any of the major search engine’s) actions “wrong”? In some ways, yes, since their services are given unfair prominence over the rest of the Web’s; however, it’s done to benefit users. Not all promoted services are owned by the search engine (see the “bos to sfo” example), which is evidence that search engines aren’t trying to unfairly promote their services but rather help their users.