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February 6, 2013

Study Finds Racial Bias in Google Ad Results 
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A new study has found racial bias in ad results from the online search
engine Google. Harvard Professor Latanya Sweeney found names typically
associated with African Americans were 25 percent more likely to produce
ad results offering background checks and suggesting the person had a
criminal record. Sweeney conducted the study after a search for her own
name turned up an ad reading, "Latanya Sweeney, Arrested?" with a link
offering background checks. Sweeney concluded: "There is discrimination
in the delivery of these ads."

 

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