Google to flag "offensive" content in search results

San Francisco, Calif. – Google has introduced a new guideline targeting “upsetting” or “offensive” content.

According to a report by USA Today, in an effort to deliver more factually accurate and less inflammatory search results, Google is using “quality raters” to flag search results that may be upsetting or offensive.

Google uses thousands of independent contractors who work as “quality raters.” Their job is to score search results based on Google-provided guidelines.

USA Today reports that on Tuesday, quality raters were directed to seek “Upsetting-Offensive” content such as hate speech, offensive terms, graphic violence, or explicit information about harmful activities.