Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is investigating Google for allegedly manipulating search results and showing bias against conservative content ahead of the 2024 election. Bailey plans to issue subpoenas to gather information about Google’s black-box algorithm that powers its search engine. There are concerns that Google is pushing conservative reporting to less visible pages on search results, which could impact the democratic process. Google has denied these claims, stating that their search engine is nonpartisan and serves all users regardless of political beliefs.
This investigation comes after years of allegations from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, that Google suppresses conservative voices. The scrutiny intensified when Google’s autofill feature seemed to omit results related to an attempted assassination of Trump. The House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer, requested information from Google and Meta CEOs regarding potential information suppression on their platforms. They also sought details about Google’s search algorithm.
Trump himself has spoken out against Google’s alleged bias, claiming that the company only promotes negative stories about him while favoring positive coverage of his opponents. He has threatened to prosecute Google if he is elected president again. These accusations were made following a report from a conservative watchdog organization, the Media Research Center, which found that search results for Vice President Kamala Harris were prioritized over Trump’s official website.
Overall, the investigation into Google’s search manipulation and alleged bias is ongoing, with both sides presenting their arguments. The outcome of this probe could have significant implications for the tech giant and its role in providing unbiased information to users.
