Google Search Bug Used to Suppress News Article

The Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) discovered that an article about a tech executive's campaign to stifle journalism had vanished from Google search results. Investigation revealed a bug in Google's 'Refresh Outdated Content' tool allowed manipulation of search results by altering URL capitalization, causing the article to be de-indexed. This method was used repeatedly to suppress information until FPF reported it to Google, leading to a swift fix. The incident raises concerns about transparency in Google's search algorithm and the potential for malicious use, highlighting the complexities of information manipulation.