• Shopping Cart Shopping Cart
    0Shopping Cart
Campaign Against Antisemitism
  • Link to X
  • Link to Tiktok
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Mail
  • ANTISEMITISM
    • Definition of Antisemitism
    • Recognising Antisemitism
    • The Law of Antisemitism
    • Resources for Teachers
  • RESEARCH
    • Prevalence of Antisemitism
    • Antisemitic Crime Levels
    • Prosecutions for Antisemitism
    • Effects on British Jews
    • Antisemitism in Political Parties
    • EHRC
    • Antisemitism in Universities
    • Antisemitism in Local Authorities
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Media Centre
  • PODCAST
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Work
    • Spokespeople
  • HELP US
    • Subscribe
    • Volunteer with us
    • Intern with us
    • Work with us
    • Become a Student Ambassador
    • Donate
  • CONTACT
    • General Enquiries
    • Media Enquiries
    • Licensing
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
United Kingdom, Websites UK-only e-mail list (not for international stories), Website

How one outraged journalist shamed Google into demoting Holocaust denial sites

Carole Cadwalladr, a journalist for the Guardian and the Observer has a special interest in the colonisation of parts of the internet by the far-right. In December, she discovered that using Google to search for “Did the Holocaust happen?” returned search results from neo-Nazi Holocaust denial websites claiming that the Holocaust was a hoax perpetrated by Jews in order to enrich themselves and subjugate non-Jews. Cadwalladr was so horrified that she wrote about it, and paid Google more than £500 from her own pocket for advertisements to appear above the search results confirming that the Holocaust did happen, with links to websites describing the disgusting phenomenon of Holocaust denial.

Cadwalladr’s outrage was directed not only at those who published the Holocaust denial websites, but at Google itself for pretending that it has no control over search results whilst profiting from them. Google said that it does “not remove content from search results, except in very limited cases such as illegal content, malware and violations of our webmaster guidelines.” She wrote: “[Google is] profiting from Holocaust denial. Its algorithm is helping Stormfront reach new recruits – the next generation of Thomas Mairs and [Anders] Breiviks – all the while adding to its bottom line, its quarterly profits.”

Initially, Google refused to do anything about this, noting that their algorithms were automated and might return offensive results sometimes. But Cadwalladr kept going, and her story was picked up by other media outlets which joined Cadwalladr’s scrutiny of Google’s highly-irresponsible attitude.

Now Google has said that it is changing its algorithm. Confirming the change, a spokesman said: “This is a really challenging problem, and something we’re thinking deeply about in terms of how we can do a better job.” Now the Holocaust denial results have been demoted by Google, but as she pointed out on Twitter, similar searches are still returning far-right Holocaust denial websites.

The colonisation of parts of the internet by the far-right is an immense problem, and Cadwalladr’s achievement is impressive. She has achieved a measure of success where many have tried and failed. For example, in 2004 Google came under scrutiny because searching for “Jew” returned a website dedicated to promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories. Google refused to change its algorithm that time, instead bizarrely opting to display a message above the search results encouraging users not to trust the “offensive search results”.

Every day that this problem goes unsolved, Google is directing millions of users into the clutches of far-right propagandists. Hopefully they will be disgusted by what they see, but who knows how many children and suggestible adults are persuaded every day that Jews are conspiring to swindle and corrupt society?

So @google finally fixes "did the holocaust happen". Hurrah! Shame it's still "a lie" "a hoax" & not actually "real"https://t.co/wmA6cpEQNT pic.twitter.com/g5WhK7lbPG

— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) December 27, 2016

Related

      
15/01/2017
Search Search
  • Ofcom investigating after BBC claims ‘nothing to see here’14/07/2025 - 21:13
  • BBC releases long-awaited report into scandalous Gaza documentary14/07/2025 - 13:22
  • Major report reveals that Iran has targeted “prominent Jewish individuals”10/07/2025 - 12:22
  • Success: Home Offices rejects Hamas application for de-proscription10/07/2025 - 11:05
  • Britain’s March Against Antisemitism07/07/2025 - 21:00
  • CAA preparing criminal prosecution of Roger Waters07/07/2025 - 15:43
  • Comedian Reginald D. Hunter appears in court in private prosecution brought by CAA07/07/2025 - 12:33
  • “The only good pig is a dead pig”: CAA uncovers new footage of Bob Vylan04/07/2025 - 17:24
  • Britain’s March Against Antisemitism to be held in central London03/07/2025 - 18:09
  • Glastonbury, and the undoing of Britain30/06/2025 - 20:49

We are seeking to recruit a Communications and Research Manager a School and Campus Educator to join our London office

Join the fight

Subscribe
Volunteer
Donate

Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Everything that we do is done by people who volunteer their time, using donations contributed by members of the public. Join the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to our updates, volunteering, or donating.

Related

Justice, justice, you shall pursue - צדק צדק תרדף
© Copyright - Campaign Against Antisemitism, all rights reserved. Our logo is a registered trademark.
Campaign Against Antisemitism is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charity Commission (number 1163790).
Use of our website is subject to our terms. Trees are planted every year to keep our work carbon neutral.
  • Link to X
  • Link to Tiktok
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to Youtube
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Mail
Link to: Muslim Public Affairs Committee founder defends Malaysian PM’s antisemitic speech Link to: Muslim Public Affairs Committee founder defends Malaysian PM’s antisemitic speech Muslim Public Affairs Committee founder defends Malaysian PM’s antisemitic... Link to: Children at three Jewish schools in London put on alert this week over bomb threats Link to: Children at three Jewish schools in London put on alert this week over bomb threats Children at three Jewish schools in London put on alert this week over bomb...
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top

We use cookies to track use of our website and your preferences. Use of our website is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Read more.Accept cookies and our terms of use

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Terms of use and privacy policy
Accept settingsHide notification only
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES BY E-MAIL

By default you will receive weekly e-mails, but when you receive the first e-mail you can change to daily or monthly e-mails instead.

If you prefer to subscribe later, you can do so by scrolling right to the bottom of this page.