Google Censors Sankaku Complex

google-autosuggestion.png

Google has begun quietly censoring Sankaku Complex from its search suggestions in much the same way as it does anything else which does not fit into its white-picket-fence fantasy Internet.

Whilst still dominating the listings for actual searches (and apparently unmolested there), autosuggested searches using unfiltered results now resolutely refuse to acknowledge the presence of “sankaku” in the English language, whether in connection with this site or lesser pursuits such as judo.

Previously even a “sank” would yield pointers for pathetically lazy typists as to the proper spelling of this site at the very top – not a hugely significant change to those seeking the site, but an example of the kind of “chilling effect” Google pretends to abhor.

Internet usage of the word “sankaku” itself, previously the rather obscure name of a judo move and a piece of software, now appears generally to point out this site – the judo move “sankaku jime” returns 40,000 pages as opposed to at least 800,000 references to “sankaku complex,” and Google’s own statistics indicate it indexes millions of pages on the “sankakucomplex.com” domain alone.

Judging from past incidents, Google seems unlikely to explain itself – flagrant speculation suggests Google objects to the content of the site, and so has quietly slipped the entire word into its secret ban-filters, or “technical errors” as it has lately taken to calling them.

Whilst Google still maintains, if barely, the appearance of unfiltered search results in its main results, its autosuggestions have lately been attracting attention for political correctness and puritanical purging run amok – politically sensitive but historically significant words like “Aryan” are blocked, and the company even blocks suggestions of such offensive terms as “penis” whilst freely allowing anything connected with “breasts.”

A policy it applies increasingly widely – except of course to huge sites busily hawking vast amounts of porn on the side, or sites which have been accused of harbouring all manner of illegal content.

And of course, the suggestions it offers up remain as bizarre as ever


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    Avatar of DFC
    Comment by DFC
    01:48 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    How long till Google chokes on its own censorship. Is this under safesearch or with safecrap off? Its not even right for google to intervene on non-safesearch queries.

    Maybe this is all part of the plan to compete with Apple.

    Avatar of shoranhimura
    Comment by shoranhimura
    01:56 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    I think that once they reach a certain level of popularity, every company becomes kinda apprehensive about its contents...google is not an exception...

    BUT, I do like to point that theres anything that i would blame sankaku for...

    Avatar of Schrobby
    Comment by Schrobby
    03:53 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google is the new China.

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:19 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    This reminds me, they removed Littlewhitebutterflies not long ago too.

    Avatar of Darkrockslizer
    Comment by Darkrockslizer
    05:15 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    We should make a permalink to littlewhitebutterlflies somewhere here on Sankaku.

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:33 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    what the hell i can still get littlewhitebutterflies AND sankaku from google, bitches best be turning off their safe search

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:54 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google doing craps like that will sink very soon if they continue.

    Avatar of Crim
    Comment by Crim
    07:33 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Im tired of google
    10 years ago it used to be like the "hidden search engine", now its every noob instant go to

    We need a new engine, who has one?

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:07 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Even with safe search off, "sankaku" doesn't appear in the suggestions, let alone "sankaku complex". Since by the time your at the second k there are no other alternatives and the suggestion list is just empty, it appears they just blocked the word entirely.

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:22 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    There are alternative search engines. They can be good for certain niche topics, but generally their indexes are just too small. But even if some other company would outdo Google, it would only be a matter of time before we would get this shit again.
    The only solution would be to create some kind of decentralised search platform. But a) it would be very hard to outdo Google and until you do no one will use it (‘lock-in’) and b) it would be almost impossible to uphold search quality and fight spam. And no doubt the RIAA would go ape-shit on your ass if one of the results you indexed happened to contain a ripped mp3.

    Avatar of moebius22
    Comment by moebius22
    09:57 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    How about [http://www.ixquick.com/?]http://www.ixquick.com/?

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:02 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    I just search Sankaku, and the first result was Sankaku complex.

    Perhaps this is a regional thing?

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:45 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Same as above. They might have removed it.

    All considering if they did censor, how would they be any better than China censoring them?

    Avatar of Icefox
    Comment by Icefox
    12:26 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's the autosuggest function that is censored, not the actual search itself. Try going to google.com and just type in "Sankaku" (or just "San"), don't hit enter or click search. The auto-suggest won't give you Sankaku because it is censored.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:15 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Kinda ironic. Google is how i stumbled upon this site a while back. I was actually searching for Persona 4 images, and what I got was this site. I haven't left since, due to the sheer amount of awesomeness that this site contains.

    Avatar of CowExtract
    Comment by CowExtract
    14:20 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Kinda ironic. Google is how i stumbled upon this site...yadda yadda blah blah so on, and so fourth. that Anon comment above me is me. I didn't realize I was not logged in... sorry

    Comment by flood
    18:47 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google stop showing SanCon links?
    Google crumble.

    Comment by Anonymous
    00:49 21/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    I must agree with previous anons' statements... This may be a regional thing because google's auto-suggest feature still brings up sankaku complex after I type "sankak".

    I hail from San Diego, CA. Where google still likes SC =D

    Avatar of Icefox
    Comment by Icefox
    06:34 21/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    I hail from Los Angeles, CA. Not far at all! And are you sure that isn't your search history? :)

    Avatar of CowExtract
    Comment by CowExtract
    13:47 21/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    I have to go as far as "Sankak" before it will suggest it.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:34 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Googles policy on auto suggestion clearly states it does not do bad words or porn, this site falls under the porn category. There is no conspiracy.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:46 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    When you search "sankaku complex", I don't think it should refer to someone with a judo move complex...

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:50 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google doesn't do anything out of the ordinary. I remember reading something about this on Slashdot a while back, and as one of the commenters pointed out back then, google is using a unified engine to deliver suggestions, as there is a significant performance hit from additional filtering mechanisms to an already performance intensive operation. This is more of a case of using the "most common denominator" than censoring anything. It's google's policy to avoid censorship as much as possible, in order to stay to keep the bar for other search engines high. Need I point out that the most commonly searched word on google is "sex"?

    Rather than censorship, this is more akin to keeping pornographic material off their front page. It would certainly be bad PR if some close minded religious fundamentalist got upset when they were searching for "horse" and google suggest shows "horse porn" as a top result.

    Avatar of Yuki
    Comment by Yuki
    03:34 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Next thing we know, even the word Google will be filtered off.

    Avatar of Schrobby
    Comment by Schrobby
    03:50 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google is a shit company. It should go the way of all shit and get flushed away.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:57 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Stupid people.

    By demanding political correctness you're unintentionally constricting you're own freedom of speech.

    Avatar of Yoshii-kun
    Comment by Yoshii-kun
    11:11 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Cool, Sankaku made their list!
    You're notorious rating are off the charts!!

    Avatar of BlaqCat
    Comment by BlaqCat
    12:25 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Hm...notorious rating goes up, traffic goes up.

    Comment by Anonymous
    13:27 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    booboogle

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:11 23/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    And use what in its place? That piece of shit Bing? Or an even shittier search engine? Google is the only usable search engine, it shouldnt go anywhere or everyone would be screwed. Think before you speak.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:11 23/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google says that Bing is a better search engine with better results than their own engine. That's from the top executives and top engineers, so that's something to remember.

    Of course, that might just be their pre-emtpive attempt to prevent the white house or congress from taking them over. Congress has been saying that net neutrality doesn't go far enough, that the people of the world need search neutrality, and are talking about REGULATING Google so it is illegal to filter its results or links at all--- AND to place it under the control of the government to make sure Google stops "Microsofting" everyone as it is now a defacto monopoly.

    So in other words--- Google is in deep crap with the US legislature. Might be why they are working over Obama's senior staff so hard lately--- that, and to be the sole warehouse of financial and health data as required by the health care reform and financial reforms.

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:12 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Don't care sankaku is in my favorites <3

    Avatar of Risui
    Comment by Risui
    11:40 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    this anon speaks the simple truth, besides why would we want anyone finding sankaku, lets become stealthy and the feminists and moralfags keep searching google fo us XD

    Avatar of No Longer an Active Account
    11:30 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Not even Apple is this censored. I'm typing this with a MAC.

    Avatar of BlaqCat
    Comment by BlaqCat
    12:36 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Give it time....

    Avatar of No Longer an Active Account
    07:59 29/08/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well I guess in the next 50 years MACs will be nothing but work computers, but for the time being I can look at what I want as long as it doesn't contain a virus.

    Avatar of diskonline
    Comment by diskonline
    12:35 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    They have to do something on autosuggest system, at least stop suggesting unsafe result, or it would be too easy for someone to accuse Google for something like: When you simplily type XXX, Google autosuggest something like XXXXXX, which is illegal content.

    At least the searching result is remains uncensored, dont blame.

    Avatar of Shippoyasha
    Comment by Shippoyasha
    16:21 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google being big brother doesn't surprise me. As of the last decade, they've been more predatory of other technology companies, websites and expanding their corporation. Does not surprise me one bit.

    Avatar of Yoru
    Comment by Yoru
    01:48 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    no way! this site is completely legit.

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:59 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Except that its filled with pedophile weaboo who just come to masturbate, so if by legit you mean a wapanese shit hole that should be wiped off the face of the planet? Then yes.

    Avatar of Shizu's Waki Obsessor: MaidNiac
    02:03 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Lonely troll is lonely.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:10 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's hard but that's how probably google thinks too, in well manner

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:39 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Trolls are people with such low self-esteem that they have to manufacture people that they can pretend to look down on and then make cowardly, anonymous remarks to.

    I actually feel sorry for them.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:25 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    ^ Hey, you're trollin'!

    Avatar of BlaqCat
    Comment by BlaqCat
    12:18 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Hm, between this and Mangatoshokan losing most of it's manga due to the publishers coalition, it seems that corporations are trying to send us a message:

    "We have no idea what we're doing. And, by and large, we're quite stupid"

    Avatar of CaptainFawful
    Comment by CaptainFawful
    02:08 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Anon, then why are you on the very site you're trying to insult? You're either a hypocrite, or just an idiot. Either way, you're in no position to call other people names.

    Avatar of vocaloidfan
    Comment by vocaloidfan
    03:32 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    anon is here to be our toy, we can hammer them all we like and we still don't know if he comes back or not, it's the beauty of sankakucomplex

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:42 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Google should censor the word "troll".

    Avatar of Final
    Comment by Final
    02:22 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Look! Larry Page and Sergey Brin have come to visit.

    Avatar of Ray
    Comment by Ray
    02:29 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    Anon, and I take it you're gonna be the one that's gonna wipe us "wapanese" off the face of the planet, aren't you faggot?

    Avatar of Tex_Arcana
    Comment by Tex_Arcana
    02:52 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    I see no reason why he can't be both a hypocrite AND an idiot.

    With a little work, he could be a Darwin award too, someday.

    Avatar of Entangler
    Comment by Entangler
    07:02 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    One could only hope

    Avatar of Petori
    Comment by Petori
    05:04 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    And yet you come here.

    Avatar of darknetwork
    Comment by darknetwork
    07:49 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    i could pay a little respect,if u posted without hiding behind this anon thing. Poor lonely troll

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:22 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    While I agree that that anon is an idiot, and a troll, and probably quite a variety of other unpleasant things, you sir, are hiding behind your pseudonym just as effectively. Besides, even if he were to post his full name and address (a less than wise course of action so I won't put it past him) that still doesn't change the fact that he's an idiot and a troll.

    Comment by pacino man
    02:21 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    me too. vote up for you.

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:30 20/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    long live pedophiles!!!

    Avatar of Riiku
    Comment by Riiku
    03:06 21/07/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    The reason I hate google is because it tries to satisfy everyones tastes. It should just do things one way and fuck anyone who disagree. That's the true way of doing business, not kissing everyone's butts







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