A Republican Senator has launched an investigation amid concerns over censorship and bias on Google’s search engine.
Sen. Dr. Roger Marshall of Kansas launched the investigation, accusing the technological giant of “constricting the free flow of information.”
“Google, the largest Search Engine Operator in the world, has become a propaganda wing of the Left,” he wrote on the social media platform X. “No more hiding behind your algorithm – your time is up.”
The controversy began at the end of July when social media users noticed that certain search terms related to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump were omitted from the recommended autofill options. In addition, searches such as “Trump rally” would instead direct readers to news about presidential rival Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Google’s failure to provide suggestions related to the assassination attempt against President Trump on July 13, 2024, as part of its search function is yet another example of censorship against conservative voices and violates the intent of Section 230,” Sen. Marshall wrote in a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. “Omitting suggestions to the most obvious and recent victim of an assassination attempt shows a willful discrimination against President Trump and users of your search engine.”
“Google advertises itself as a search engine and aggregator, not a censor,” he continued. “If Google wishes to become to a publishing firm or editor, Congress could then regulate accordingly by removing the sacred Section 230 protections your firm has long used to silence conservative voices.”
Many on social media were supportive of Sen. Marshall’s investigation.
Others were more critical in their stance on Google.
