Google Search By Image Thinks I'm A Porn Star

Jun 28, 2011 - 8:35 am 18 by
Filed Under Google

I was messing around with the new search by image feature on Google Images last night. I uploaded my headshot to Google and Google returned a nude woman as one of the "visually similar results."

Here is a screen shot:

Google Search By Image Porn

On one hand, it was upsetting to see Google show pornographic images of a woman for my headshot. I mean, does Google think I have that big of a chest? But on the other hand, Google thinks I am pretty.

On a more serious note, this gave me the opportunity to play with the "report image" feature within this "visually similar results" and I noticed that as soon as you report an image, it goes away and likely for good.

I kept reporting images and they kept going away. I then tested to see if they show for other users by trying different browsers and computers and the images that I reported never came back up again for the same headshot.

I assume this can be abused to help people tailor the results that show up for their own images. In fact, one person asked me after my Red Innova talk about online reputation management for this new feature and I said it was too early to tell. But if it is that easy, and you don't like images that show up for your pictures, then simply click "report image" and your problem is solved.

I am not sure how long this will last but I guess it is better than having pornographic content show up?

Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.

 

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