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ARTICLE · 16 SEPTEMBER 2013

Google Search – Judgment Of The German High Court (Bundesgerichtshof-BGH) About The Autocomplete Functioning

Kerres Partners
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Since 2009 the internet search engine 'Google' has been using an autocomplete functioning to support its users.

GermanyMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Stefan Adametz
Stefan Adametz

Since 2009 the internet search engine 'Google' has been using an autocomplete functioning to support its users. This means that during the manual input of a search criterion this functioning automatically displays different search suggestions ('predictions') and completive recommendations in the form of combinations of words. The automatically shown combinations and suggested additions are based on an algorithm, which especially uses common user behavior, frequent Google search queries and the content of different websites for creating a combination. Therefore especially in connection with the search for a person it could happen that combinations are created which are disreputable, insulting or libelous for this person (eg in case of the wife of the former president of the republic of Germany the 'Google' autocomplete functioning often suggested 'escort services' or 'prostitution' as addition to her name).

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