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July 10, 2009

Report Offensive Google Images Results

Google Image Search, recently rebranded as Google Images, made it easier to change the SafeSearch filter by including a drop-down below the search box. The default option is "moderate", which excludes explicit images, but you can also disable SafeSearch or select the "strict" filter, which takes into account your keywords and the text from web pages.

Now you can also report offensive images that aren't filtered by SafeSearch. "Many users prefer not to have adult sites included in search results (especially if kids use the same computer). Google's SafeSearch screens for sites that contain explicit sexual content and deletes them from your search results. No filter is 100 percent accurate, but SafeSearch should eliminate most inappropriate material," explains Google.

The word "offensive" is pretty vague and Google doesn't define its scope, but you shouldn't use the new option for reporting irrelevant images or spam results.


20 comments:

  1. This is stupid because when you report the images, they stay on your screen. You have no idea if or when Google will remove these images, so your kids are still not safe. I don't use Google Images for this very reason and it looks like I will have to continue to not use it. If you are logged into your google account, they should at least hide the images from your view...

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  2. Or you could buy another machine and don't let the kids use yours.

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  3. It's a federal law. Children’s Internet Protection Act don't let anyone under 21 years of age to use internet without supervision from older wiser people.

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  4. Don't report that image! It's the best looking ubuntu screenshot i've seen :p

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  5. @Anonymous

    Maybe in _your_ jurisdiction. Luckily Team America World Police don't dictate the law to everyone.

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  6. If it was enforced it would be dictatorial, it's only cited so that people can't then turn around and complain that the internet SHOULD be policed, when clearly that is impossible and unethical.

    That said, people should supervise children under a certain age on the net, it's just too unpredictable, but no one can make them. But then, they shouldn't turn around and complain either.

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  7. Glad to see this, mostly because I frequently do searches for fairly innocuous phrases that return results that are, at best, irrelevant and, at worst, "offensive". I'm not a prude, but I don't want explicit sexual or graphically violent images when I'm at the office looking for images having nothing to do with that.

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  8. Thats a nice idea but we can't blame google for that

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  9. Whoa! That image is offensive to you? Well Done! What would the internet be without people like you.

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  10. No, it's not offensive to me, but I couldn't post a screenshot that included explicit images. "Offensive" is vague and entirely subjective. Check the search results for: offensive ads, offensive cartoon, offensive art, offensive signs.

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  11. Our kids had no idea you could filter images using SafeSearch, as it wouldn't occur to them to go to the preferences page (too much information).

    Now they can see prominently whether to self-censor. Do you know any kids with restraint?

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  12. it is not google's job to censor our children from the internets, that is the duty of the parent.

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  13. why did you have to report that image... That was my FAVORITE IMAGE.

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  14. Hi I searched google images today for my school project "grass meadow" and it showed an women like in fairy tales in meadow in the 2nd page. It looked like obscene painting to me so I reported to google "report offensive images" and after that it displayed "reported". It's really a good approach by Google. How will they remove such contents from the search and how long will it take?

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  15. Ok so can someone tell me what I should do in this situation. My daughter foolishly took some naked pics or herself and sent them to her boyfriend, they split up and he spread them around. She is 13 and now they are on google images!! how do I get them taken off!! because thats childporn....Right!!

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  16. why is it that all the people who stood up for any explicit image have put themselves as anonymous, i wonder why, could it possibly be that you are ashamed of the way you are and you dont want anyone to know who you are? many of the people who are attacking these pictures are conerned parents who do not want their young children growing up looking at girls being as nothing but a body. little will they know at their young age that there is a lot more to a girl than what is on the outside, they need to be protected from these dangerous thoughts and images until they are old eough to think for themselves, and make the right decision withoput a SINFUL influence.

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  17. The new images face lift has removed the option to report images.
    Please write to Google and let them know we need be able to report these images.
    Only YOU can make a world of GOOD

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  18. They're updated their google images page since then, and it nolonger says 'report offensive images' there. I found a penis when searching 'upsidedown elephant'. There are some other hilarious images there though, so overall the experience was still pleasant. Nonetheless, the penis was strange, unwelcome, and frightening. Any attempt to remove this voilent display of human anatomy would be greatly appreciated.

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  19. The google report images is a JOKE!!!! what is the point? I've been reporting
    offensive images forever. The images do not EVER disappear!!!

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  20. Same experience as anonymous above. Also, it's not just photographic images that can be offensive. There are illustrations of humanoid figures with pre-pubescent figures in pornographic poses. Yes, I know what the cartoon style is called but that's besides the point. They show up in random searches for fx. hairstyles, eye colors, anything that could be used to describe a person.

    I find it offensive and so should any adult with normal mental functions and I don't want my kids to come across them. I've tried sending a direct link to the image urls, urls to the sites and explained to google but those reports are denied.

    I'm beginning to think that some of the google staff are the same immature males who like these types of cartoons. Shame on google!

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