Esse est indicato in Google: Ethical and Political Issues in Search Engines

Authors

  • Lawrence M Hinman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/irie345

Abstract

Search engines play an increasingly pivotal role in the distribution and eventual construction of knowledge, yet they are largely unnoticed, their procedures are opaque, and they are almost completely devoid of independent oversight. In this paper the author examines three areas in which we encounter difficult and persistent ethical issues in search engine technology: The problem of algorithm and the lack of transparency of the search process, the problem of privacy with regards of the possibility to monitor search histories, and the problem of local censorship. The given findings lead to the conclusion that the development of structures of accountability for search engines is an important task for the near future.

Downloads

Published

2005-06-01

How to Cite

Hinman, Lawrence M. 2005. “Esse Est Indicato in Google: Ethical and Political Issues in Search Engines”. The International Review of Information Ethics 3 (June). Edmonton, Canada:19-25. https://doi.org/10.29173/irie345.

Issue

Section

Article