It all started on a Thursday morning when an odd Google glitch in its search results sparked a firestorm online: The name of President Joe Biden didn’t appear on the list of U.S. Presidents in Order. Many users felt it strange and started speculating about the cause of such an anomaly. By 2:00 AM Eastern Time, it was resolved, but it ignited debates over political bias, cybersecurity, and the growing influence of Big Tech.
The Incident: A Missing President
When users typed in “List of US Presidents in Order,” the list skipped Joe Biden altogether. It seemed like Donald Trump served back-to-back terms, and then suddenly the list leaped to Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. The list missed the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden.
This bug was not a one-time incident. The first people to report the anomaly were social media users, particularly those on the BlueSky platform. Screenshots of the results went viral and led to heated discussions. Some dismissed it as a harmless glitch, while others saw it as a more significant problem with a political motive.
Speculations and Theories
Internet pundits seized upon the glitch. Some believe it was left out on purpose on BlueSky. Others considered possible infiltration by hackers intent on making political statements. Even more, relate this event to other controversies coming up about recent Silicon Valley Executives’ brawls.
It was pretty unusual, as just a week ago, industry tech leaders like Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk were photographed attending events regarding Donald Trump’s re-inauguration.
Meta’s Past Controversies
Two other cases that caused anguish are also tarnishing the image of Meta. A report emerged indicating that users are auto-followers of Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, despite users having clear wishes to unfollow the duo, even when Meta was dubbed to report this as a “glitch”, further throwing up dust about Big Tech interfering with narratives surrounding politics.
The above two incidents only fanned much angst against how the tech corporations handled politics and their respective platforms.
Google Refuses to Open Its Mouth
Even after the mass outcry, Google refused to comment on what caused the glitch. The company neither denied that it was a technical fault nor responded to allegations of political interference.
And so, the explanation for what exactly went wrong at this juncture remains pending in the air.
Was it a coincidence?
Or was this just an extension of something else bigger: political affiliations concerning tech platforms?
A History of Political Tech Glitches
It is not the first time Big Tech has faced allegations of political bias. Long before this scandal, both the left and right had bemoaned that platforms like Google, Meta, and Twitter either amplify or suppress voices.
For example, during the 2020 elections, Google was faulted for the way its algorithms were prioritizing certain news stories.
Possible Explanations for the Glitch
While conspiracy theories dominate online discussions, there are more mundane explanations for the glitch.
- Technical Error: These search algorithms are sophisticated. Perhaps a tiny little coding problem or server glitch might lead to inappropriate or incomplete information.
- Data Recharge Problem: Search engines do not cease the updating process of their data. In some cases, perhaps the concerned database does not adequately load and excludes certain portions.
- Cyber Hack: Many claim the hacking of our algorithms, but such news is unsubstantiated. Not so long ago, some huge websites have gone under cyber-attacks. Their motives may well have been political too.
- Human Error. It could also be due to errors during routine updates and data entry.
Barring an official statement from Google, the actual cause is not known.
How Algorithms Shape Our Perceptions
At its core is the failure of algorithms in public perception. Algorithms determine the information shown or displayed in a web-based search engine like Google. Algorithms tend to favor relevance but are still not perfect.
Even a small coding mistake creates waves at wide levels. This is one such case. The absence of the sitting president in the list of U.S. Presidents appears to be pretty mundane, but the symbolic value here is huge.
Public Reaction
The bug has attracted mixed responses. Some are saying the Big Techs need to make things more transparent, while others claim that this flaw has been overemphasized.
Some would insist that Google and similar companies have to explain in a public manner how the algorithms work, and how errors such as this can be corrected.
Others claim that this is a bit over the top, as glitches are part of complex systems and should not be politicized.
Wider Implications
This incident encapsulates the growing influence of platforms in shaping politics and political narrative. Search is an information gatekeeper, now social media; when something fails, it does not just harm the personal user but can sweep across a public psyche as a whole.
The other one is accountability. In the case where the platform, perhaps as a tech, made a political-related mistake, to whom would such liability fall? What will prevent this company from making this mistake in the future?
Building Back Trust in Big Tech
Rebuilding trust in technology firms should begin from now on. Be clear; explain what algorithm these machines have. Give clear security mechanisms to prevent an error.
Organizations should also invest in effective monitoring systems to detect and correct errors before they leak to the public. In such incidents, clear communication with the public also helps prevent misinformation.
Conclusion
The incident involving the temporary disappearance of President Joe Biden from Google’s list of US Presidents has given a tough lesson on the immense responsibility that accompanies power by these tech platforms. Whether this was a glitch, a hack, or something else, this incident has lent further credence to increased calls for transparency and accountability among Big Techs.
It wakes us up, with the advancement of technology in the way we consume information. And it reminds us that even the slightest mistake can be a big deal, especially when the environment is political.
The debate continues, but one thing is clear: the intersection of technology and politics will only become more complex in the years to come.
