The Politics of Search: A Decade Retrospective.
Venue
The Information Society Journal, vol. 26 (2010), pp. 364-374
Publication Year
2010
Authors
BibTeX
Abstract
In “Shaping theWeb:Why the Politics of Search Engines Matters,” Introna and
Nissenbaum (2000) introduced scholars to the political, as well as technical,
issues central to the development of online search engines. Since that time,
scholars have critically evaluated the role that search engines play in structuring
the scope of online information access for the rest of society, with an emphasis on
the implications for a democratic and diverseWeb. This article describes the
thought behind search engine regulation, online diversity, and information bias,
and it places these issues within the context of the technical and societal changes
that have occurred in the online search industry. The author assesses which of the
initial concerns expressed about online search engines remain relevant today and
discusses how technical changes demand a new approach to measuring online diversity
and democracy. The author concludes with a proposal to direct the research and
thought in online search going forward.
