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Post by Watchman on Sept 7, 2006 14:34:27 GMT -5
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Post by Watchman on Oct 10, 2006 16:00:14 GMT -5
Google Admits Terror Storm Blackout
But claims "error" and not censorship for second successive time as 9/11 film enters top 100
Paul Joseph Watson & Alex Jones/Prison Planet.com | October 9 2006
Following our attempts to get an answer as to why Google was seemingly artificially stifling the viewership numbers for Terror Storm, ensuring the film didn't enter Google Video's popular categories, the online giant has admitted the figures were pegged but claims again that the change was due to a technical glitch.
Google's response in full is reprinted below.
Thanks for your email and we apologize for any frustration. We understand that you are concerned about the number of public vie ws "Terror Storm" received.
The temporary statistical change in public views was a result of system issues experienced earlier this week. However, this issue was resolved, and the playback statistics are now accurately reflecting the number of views this video is receiving. We have confirmed that this video is currently appearing on the top 100 list.
Please note that this technical issue affected all videos, not just the video in question. However, we are taking steps to ensure that this does not happen in the future.
In addition, we rank videos based on a number of factors, including the video file name, title, and any associated metadata to determine whether videos are relevant to a query. We do not alter any video's statistical information nor do we manually select the ranking of videos.
We apologize for any confusion and appreciate your understanding. Thank you for taking the time to write us.
This is an elongated version of Google's previous response to our contention that views for Terror Storm were deliberately being trimmed as part of an executive level censorship policy to prevent the 9/11 film going viral as happened to Loose Change. "The DVD of the resistance!" Get TerrorStorm on DVD today! Subscribe to Prison Planet.tv and see it in high quality or watch it for free at Google Video .
Could Google have made the same mistake twice in consecutive weeks? We cannot verify their claim that, "the technical issue affected all videos," as from our careful tracking it only seemed to impact Terror Storm and a handful of other videos about the 9/11 inside job.
We have enjoyed using Google's services for years and we do not seek to pick a fight simply to garner attention.
Google's censorship policies in China and even those directed against US websites that are mildly critical of China prove that the company that was founded on the principle "don't be evil," is slowly beginning to resemble the very controlling Big Brother image it claimed to despise.
The Google help page used to state that it did not censor search results. This policy has now changed and Google now carried that proviso that, "in response to local laws, regulations, or policies," it may censor certain content.
Google's recent announcement, that it would use in-built computer microphones to spy on the habits of 150 million Americans , should send a chill down the spine of anyone who still cherishes personal privacy and freedom - especially as analysts predicted the technology would subsequently be turned over to the government who would use it to conduct blanket NSA spying trawls in the name of the war on terror.
In light of Google's $1.65 billion acquisition of You Tube , potential control and censorship of the Internet's newest burgeoning platform - online videos - should be of paramount concern.
Terror Storm has now entered the top 100 category of popular videos on Google. Will its viewership numbers be falsely represented for a third time by Google - ensuring the film plunges back into relative online obscurity - or will Google fix its "mistake," rescind its censorship, and allow the online video domain to be a fair and level playing field?
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Post by Watchman on Jul 17, 2007 17:04:26 GMT -5
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