On November 11, 2009,
Google introduced the ability for users with Google Accounts to lock on the SafeSearch level in Google's web and image searches. Once configured, a
password is required to change the setting.[1]
On December 12, 2012, Google removed the option to turn off the filter entirely, requiring users to enter more specific
search queries to access adult content.[3][4][5]
SafeSearch is also often used on school computers, to prevent schoolchildren from accessing pornographic content.[6]
Government and internet companies can enforce SafeSearch.[7]
Effectiveness
A report by
Harvard Law School's
Berkman Center for Internet & Society stated that SafeSearch excluded many innocuous websites from
search-result listings, including ones created by the
White House,
IBM, the
American Library Association and
Liz Claiborne.[8] On the other hand, many pornographic images slip through the filter, even when "innocent" search terms are entered. Blacklisting certain search terms is hindered by
homographs (e.g., "
beaver"),[9]blacklisting certain
URLs is rendered ineffective by the changing URLs of porn sites, and software to tag images with copious amounts of flesh tones as pornographic content is problematic because there are a variety of skin tones and pictures of babies tend to have a lot of flesh tones.[10] Google's ability to filter porn has been an important factor in its relationship with the
People's Republic of China.[11]