Google is on the receiving end of a lawsuit over some of its autocomplete suggestions for an Irish hotel.
The Ballymascanlon House Hotel, Golf and Leisure Club says several potential guests, including brides planning their weddings at the historic estate, have been shocked and troubled to see the word “receivership” pop up during Google searches for the hotel’s name.
The term indicates some or part of the hotel’s assets, including property, are being held by a custodian pending the repayment of secured debts. Receivership is used by creditors in insolvency legislation; in some cases, the administration of the debtor’s business might even be turned over to the receiver.
Google’s autocomplete suggestions have gotten the company into legal hot water in the past, generally with individuals who see potentially damaging terms following their names in search queries. The company has a history of subtle censorship of certain autocomplete terms, especially those related to online piracy. So we do know the company has the ability to alter those suggestions.
Perhaps the company might consider a DMCA takedown notice-like process for automating complaints about autocomplete suggestions; it might save the search giant a boatload of similar lawsuits in the future.
[via TheNextWeb]
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