Google accused of racism after black names are 25% more likely to bring up adverts for criminal reco

11 years ago

She found that adverts posted alongside search results for names likely to belong to black people were more likely to offer services like background checks for arrests and criminal records

They are targeting a demographic and the crime statistics show exactly why that would happen. It doesn't translate to racism - except for those who are determined to make it look that way.

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TimPhelan 11 years ago

If the ads are biased it isn't the direct result of Google being racist. They don't pick the keywords. The advertisers pick the keywords as Google explained in the article and I'm not sure how Google could control that even if they decided they wanted to.
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seasoned

11 years ago

BTW I noticed something a while ago. I researched a product that I don't think I *****EVER***** saw an internet ad for before. Suddenly, I seemed to see it EVERYWHERE! Was I dreaming? Well, I came out with a theory and it has been proven time and time again!

Google figures that if they keep bashing you with ads about something they think you are interested in that they will get you to buy, and the average page will allow them to charge that person 2-3 times for the ad.

So that TAINTS their tests! BTW the first ad I noticed this on was for an exercise machine. The latest one was a seed sprouter. Race was NEVER a part or even mentioned!

Go ahead, and research nazism. Maybe an ad will come up for them or the KKK. It is just a dumb algorithm in Google, and has NOTHNG to do with their personal views or racism.

Steve

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TimPhelan

11 years ago

Why don't you just say what the ad is for and what your "theory" is instead of beating around the bush?

BTW, Google doesn't decide to "keep bashing" us with ads so we will buy anything. They sell the ads. It's the advertisers who bash us.

Originally Posted by seasoned

BTW I noticed something a while ago. I researched a product that I don't think I *****EVER***** saw an internet ad for before. Suddenly, I seemed to see it EVERYWHERE! Was I dreaming? Well, I came out with a theory and it has been proven time and time again!

Google figures that if they keep bashing you with ads about something they think you are interested in that they will get you to buy, and the average page will allow them to charge that person 2-3 times for the ad.

So that TAINTS their tests! BTW the first ad I noticed this on was for an exercise machine. The latest one was a seed sprouter. Race was NEVER a part or even mentioned!

Go ahead, and research nazism. Maybe an ad will come up for them or the KKK. It is just a dumb algorithm in Google, and has NOTHNG to do with their personal views or racism.

Steve

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kenmichaels 11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

Why don't you just say what the ad is for and what your "theory" is instead of beating around the bush?

nobody talks about the flesh light ... its the first rule
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seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

Why don't you just say what the ad is for and what your "theory" is instead of beating around the bush?

BTW, Google doesn't decide to "keep bashing" us with ads so we will buy anything. They sell the ads. It's the advertisers who bash us.

OK, OK! Same thing. My point is simply that one attempt, or even simply researching for it, TAINTS all their other "studies". The only RELIABLE way to have such a study would be to have totally VIRGIN systems on different subnets, and run a query ONCE on each. Otherwise some aspect of the google algorithm may taint the data.

BTW I didn't even know the ads were fed by google until I checked it out. It WAS a different site.

Steve

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TimPhelan

11 years ago

Steve, the ads don't run on a algorithm. The advertisers choose the keywords to show their ads on. You have never used adwords have you?

Originally Posted by seasoned

OK, OK! Same thing. My point is simply that one attempt, or even simply researching for it, TAINTS all their other "studies". The only RELIABLE way to have such a study would be to have totally VIRGIN systems on different subnets, and run a query ONCE on each. Otherwise some aspect of the google algorithm may taint the data.

Steve

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seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

Steve, the ads don't run on a algorithm. The advertisers choose the keywords to show their ads on. You have never used adwords have you?

There IS an algorithm that determines WHAT ad is going to be shown and when and where! I HAVE used adwords and obviously understand how it works. I ALSO understand how it *****SHOULD***** work! It should NOT show a person the same ad several times on the same page, or make it look like that item is the ONLY such item on the planet! And you DO understand that a LOT of people may be BIDDING on the same word and that a given person may have looked up THOUSANDS of things, etc..., RIGHT?

Steve

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TimPhelan

11 years ago

I was wrong about the algorithm.

Originally Posted by seasoned

There IS an algorithm that determines WHAT ad is going to be shown and when and where! I HAVE used adwords and obviously understand how it works. I ALSO understand how it *****SHOULD***** work! It should NOT show a person the same ad several times on the same page, or make it look like that item is the ONLY such item on the planet! And you DO understand that a LOT of people may be BIDDING on the same word and that a given person may have looked up THOUSANDS of things, etc..., RIGHT?

Steve

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seasoned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

No. There isn't an algorithm. There's a bidding system. Highest bidder gets placed the highest. That's not an algorithm.

WOW, so if two guys even bid the same amount it is SUPPOSED to just run the first entry worldwide, multiple times on every page, until exhausted? And it does that EVEN if they are different? And I guess there is no parser either? INTERESTING.... When I ran mine, I didn't bid the highest, but I still seemed to get referrals from them.

O.........K..........

Steve
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winagain

11 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

BTW I noticed something a while ago. I researched a product that I don't think I *****EVER***** saw an internet ad for before. Suddenly, I seemed to see it EVERYWHERE! Was I dreaming? Well, I came out with a theory and it has been proven time and time again!

Google figures that if they keep bashing you with ads about something they think you are interested in that they will get you to buy, and the average page will allow them to charge that person 2-3 times for the ad.

So that TAINTS their tests! BTW the first ad I noticed this on was for an exercise machine. The latest one was a seed sprouter. Race was NEVER a part or even mentioned!

Go ahead, and research nazism. Maybe an ad will come up for them or the KKK. It is just a dumb algorithm in Google, and has NOTHNG to do with their personal views or racism.

Steve

That's just retargeting from adsense.

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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

Obviously the so called professor doesn't have a clue how Adwords works.

Maybe he's a professor like on Gilligan's Island?

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HeySal

11 years ago

Just more insanity over race. You can't even use color of skin to describe someone to pick them out in a crowd anymore without someone screaming that you're racist. Just the statement: Joe? "He's the _fill in: black, hispanic, asian___ guy, over there." Is enough to set the herds of human cattle out to trample your ass. People are putting their own ring through their noses on this issue. Dumb F**KS.

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bravo75

11 years ago

Originally Posted by HeySal

Is enough to set the herds of human cattle out to trample your ass. People are putting their own ring through their noses on this issue. Dumb F**KS.

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Dennis Gaskill

11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

If the ads are biased it isn't the direct result of Google being racist. They don't pick the keywords. The advertisers pick the keywords as Google explained in the article and I'm not sure how Google could control that even if they decided they wanted to.

Just what I was going to say for the most part.

Apparently the Harvard professor doesn't understand how search engines or advertising works. And this guy is entrusted shaping young minds ... kind of a scary thought.

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TimPhelan

11 years ago

Well, it doesn't mean the advertisers aren't being racially biased though. Like I said, I'm not sure what Google could do about that if they even wanted to.

Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill

Apparently the Harvard professor doesn't understand how search engines or advertising works. And this guy is entrusted shaping young minds ... kind of a scary thought.

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Dennis Gaskill 11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

Well, it doesn't mean the advertisers aren't being racially biased though. Like I said, I'm not sure what Google could do about that if they even wanted to.

No it doesn't, and it doesn't mean they are either.
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- TimPhelan 11 years ago
  
  I agree with that.
  
  Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill
  
  No it doesn't, and it doesn't mean they are either.
  
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RichBeck

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill

Just what I was going to say for the most part.

Apparently the Harvard professor doesn't understand how search engines or advertising works. And this guy is entrusted shaping young minds ... kind of a scary thought.

These professors... and left leaning "public educators"..... Very scary.............

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seasoned

11 years ago

HEY, sometimes I HAVE wanted to look for black(The COLOR) things. Some people DO look up criminal and handcuff. I think I looked up trick handcuffs once. So even if they COULD restrict searches, why should they?

As people have said here, people pay them to advertise. It is based on matching used words to words bid on. They can be carried over websites and sessions. So why even BOTHER doing this.

I hope google takes her to court for libel and/or slander.

Steve

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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

Just because a person bids the highest money doesn't mean they'll be in the 1st paid position, there's also a quality score.

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TimPhelan 11 years ago

You are right and I guess it is an algorithm. It's been a while since I used adwords and didn't recall it being called an algorithm. Steve was right also.

Originally Posted by yukon

Just because a person bids the highest money doesn't mean they'll be in the 1st paid position, there's also a quality score.
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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

I think the article is a fake, I don't see any paid Ads let alone racist paid Ads.

[source]

The study by Latanya Sweeney contrasted online searches using names such as 'Ebony' and 'DeShawn,' with those such as 'Jill' and 'Geoffrey.'

[UK search]

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TimPhelan

11 years ago

The article talks about whole names, not just first names.

Originally Posted by yukon

I think the article is a fake, I don't see any paid Ads let alone racist paid Ads.

[source]

[UK search]

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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

The article talks about whole names, not just first names.

I qouted the first part of the OP article with my comment above (no Ads, no racist Ads).

Another example from OPs article/link, Latanya Sweeney (no Ads, no racist Ads). The results return an actual person, nothing wrong with that. The person that wrote that article set that 1st ranked position up (SEO). It's very easy to SEO a persons name that isn't popular.

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TimPhelan

11 years ago

A possibility is that Google changed policy because of this study.

BTW, Google partially funded the study according to that article.

Originally Posted by yukon

I qouted the first part of the OP article with my comment above (no Ads, no racist Ads).

Another example from OPs article/link, Latanya Sweeney (no Ads, no racist Ads). The results return an actual person, nothing wrong with that. The person that wrote that article set that 1st ranked position up (SEO). It's very easy to SEO a persons name that isn't popular.

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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

I'm still thinking the article/research is a fake. The example Adwords Ads screenshots they posted are typical search for people Ads, good grief I see those types of Ads for my own name.

Search a phone number in Google search, just a random phone number with a real area code (US) & you'll probably see Ads for that exact phone number from Reverse Phone Lookup sites.

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mojojuju

11 years ago

It sounds like some advertisers are querying a criminal database to get names. Perhaps statistics are racist?

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mojojuju

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill

Everyone is accused of racism sooner or later.

If racism ever dies, accusations of racism will outlive it.

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John Durham

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill

Everyone is accused of racism sooner or later.

Exactly.

Is it racist to have tv stations that are blatantly for people of a specific color, and awards shows...? You dont see "W.E.T." Television Network, do you?

You dont see the "White Entertainment Awards" right?

Im not racist, some of my best friends are of a different color, even past wives... even my kids are half hispanic... but I get sick of other people calling the racist card.

The only people who can change the demographic statistical data of any group are the people in that group.

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Dan Riffle 11 years ago

Originally Posted by John Durham

<snip>You dont see "W.E.T." Television Network, do you?

John, take out the periods and you've got yourself a multi-million dollar idea...
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TimPhelan

11 years ago

Well, we kind of had that the first 40 or so years of TV.

Originally Posted by John Durham

You dont see "W.E.T." Television Network, do you?

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John Durham

11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

Well, we kind of had that the first 40 or so years of TV.

We? Im not white. Most people get me confused..., so I understand.

You see, I have a brown spec that looks like a birth mark on my arm.... but really that's my true color, its the REST of me thats covered with a big white birth mark!

I know, it's unusual.

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seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by John Durham

We? Im not white. Most people get me confused..., so I understand.

You see, I have a brown spec that looks like a birth mark on my arm.... but really that's my true color, its the REST of me thats covered with a big white birth mark!

I know, it's unusual.

I actually, and this is REAL, I saw them in REAL LIFE......... I actually saw some people that looked half white and half black(skin color)! Almost like a zebra, but they were splotches instead of stripes. I ALMOST makes one tend to believe MJs story about how HIS skin got lighter.

Steve

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John Durham

11 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

I actually, and this is REAL, I saw them in REAL LIFE......... I actually saw some people that looked half white and half black(skin color)! Almost like a zebra, but they were splotches instead of stripes. I ALMOST makes one tend to believe MJs story about how HIS skin got lighter.

Steve

I'm not a zebra Steve!!

I like to think of myself as a "Blaxicasion", basically a blaxican, where something unfortunately went horribly wrong with the pigmentation, and a white birth mark took over.

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awledd

11 years ago

Google can fix that in a minute what is the point of accusation?

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seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by awledd

Google can fix that in a minute what is the point of accusation?

Yeah, that is BULL!!!!!! What are they going to do? REFUSE ads even IMPLYING racism? GREAT! Plan a campaign, spend BILLIONS! MAYBE in a month the google auditors will get to approving YOUR ad.

REFUSE any racist keyword? Since WHEN is BLACK considered racist? Early in school when they teach colors, one is BLACK! The absence of light is black. All colors together are black. Black HOLES, Black HORSES, BLACK LABS, etc.... And HEY, if I get a tablet, maybe I want one with a BLACK CASE. I get BLACK SHOES! So good luck there!

So NO, it ISN'T easy to "fix".

Steve

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TimPhelan

11 years ago

They could not allow people to bid on keywords that are names. After all, they don't allow this for brand names, company names, etc... so why allow people to bid on any other person's names?

Originally Posted by seasoned

Yeah, that is BULL!!!!!! What are they going to do? REFUSE ads even IMPLYING racism? GREAT! Plan a campaign, spend BILLIONS! MAYBE in a month the google auditors will get to approving YOUR ad.

REFUSE any racist keyword? Since WHEN is BLACK considered racist? Early in school when they teach colors, one is BLACK! The absence of light is black. All colors together are black. Black HOLES, Black HORSES, BLACK LABS, etc.... And HEY, if I get a tablet, maybe I want one with a BLACK CASE. I get BLACK SHOES! So good luck there!

So NO, it ISN'T easy to "fix".

Steve

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seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by TimPhelan

They could not allow people to bid on keywords that are names. After all, they don't allow this for brand names, company names, etc... so why allow people to bid on any other person's names?

Well, people look for peoples NAMES also! AND, there is NO way to determine if it is a persons name, through an algorithm.

How would that have affected the wrath of hakn, or harry potter or alice in wonderland?

Steve

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Jeff Williams

11 years ago

Some people look for racism everywhere they go. Personally, I look for ulterior motives ...

Dr. Latanya Sweeney has written an inflammatory and controversial study into discrimination in online advertising and promoted it to the mass media. Why?

Because it's her job.

Sweeney is not only a Harvard professor (of Government and Technology), but also the director of the Data Privacy Lab in IQSS at Harvard.

The Data Privacy Lab is "dedicated to creating technologies and related policies" concerning privacy issues and functions by "partnering with institutions, agencies, and corporations facing real-world privacy concerns."

And if we look a bit closer, we find that businesses can partner with the Data Privacy Lab today by applying for ...

Approved Turnaround Projects: $50,000 dues per year

or

Targeted Research Projects: $200,000 per year

Appears as if the "Deshawn's" of this world pay very well. :rolleyes:

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HeySal

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill

Everyone is accused of racism sooner or later.

And it's getting worse instead of better.

When my sister was working to get her teaching certificate she was a teacher's aid. She got fired for discrimination when a little boy of another race was causing so many problems in the classroom that she put him in the corner. The parents were going to sue for racism if she wasn't fired -- the kicker is - she was in a romantic relationship, and living with, a man of the same race as the little boy she disciplined. If I were her - I would have turned around and sued that school myself for defamation of character, libel, wrongful firing, and anything else I could have soaked them for.

People have acted toward me at times as if I'm supposed to apologize for my race. Good luck with that. Everyone should be proud of who they are no matter what they are - as long as they are honest, kind, and have personal integrity - a lack of any of those three things is the only reason to ever have shame over who you are or to dislike anyone.

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HeySal

11 years ago

I just thought of something. Who the hell did that research to come up with the 25%, anyway? I think perhaps someone is looking for some get rich quick cash. Racism has gotten to be such a phony overblown issue that is being used by everyone and their brother for a means to get their own way when nothing else will do it for them.

Wish we could sue for stupidity and if they actually do this - hope that google counter-sues for malicious prosecution.

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williambrown

11 years ago

This is crazy, how could you control the search terms and its results.

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TheNewGuy2010

11 years ago

Oh goody,

another one of your "race threads".

Originally Posted by bravo75

Google has been accused of racism after allegedly linking names usually associated with black people to adverts related to criminality.

A Harvard University professor found 'significant discrimination' after comparing the adverts which appear when searching a typically black name compared with those for typically white names.

Findings showed that names typically associated with black people were 25 per cent more likely to bring up adverts related to criminality.
The study by Latanya Sweeney contrasted online searches using names such as 'Ebony' and 'DeShawn,' with those such as 'Jill' and 'Geoffrey.'

She found that adverts posted alongside search results for names likely to belong to black people were more likely to offer services like background checks for arrests and criminal records

Is Google racist? Ads pegged to search results more likely to link typically black names with criminality, study claims | Mail Online

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Google accused of racism after black names are 25% more likely to bring up adverts for criminal reco

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