Google’s search engine dominates online searches, processing an estimated 6.3 million queries every second. Given its immense scale, the platform wields significant influence over public perception. While Google’s algorithms are designed to follow neutral principles, research has shown they often produce biased results.

This issue of algorithmic bias is once again under scrutiny amid rising tensions between India and Bangladesh. A pro-Indian disinformation campaign is exploiting these biases to push an Islamophobic and alarmist narrative, contributing to misinformation that has been linked to riots and violence in Bangladesh.

These events underscore the power—and vulnerability—of Google’s search engine in shaping public discourse. They also serve as a reminder for users to critically evaluate search results rather than accepting them at face value.

<b> Understanding Algorithmic Bias </b>
Google’s search algorithms are trained on vast amounts of data collected by automated bots that crawl billions of web pages, analyzing content and quality. This data is then stored in a massive index, which Google uses to generate search results. However, the system’s reliance on existing content means it can inadvertently reflect and amplify biases present on the internet.