By Khurram Aziz | Dec 14, 2012 12:47 PM EST
Search giant Google has modified its "SafeSearch" feature making it much harder to find pornographic images in its image search results.
The change in algorithm was first reported on online community Reddit after users complained that finding explicit images had become more difficult using Google.
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The company responded with a statement saying that such images are still available through its image search. However, users will have to make their queries much more explicit in order to find them.
"We've simplified SafeSearch settings on image search and the new default behaves similarly to what most users had as the default previously ("moderate")," Google said in statement issued to CIO. "We want to show users exactly what they are looking for - but we aim not to show sexually-explicit results unless a user is specifically searching for them. We use algorithms to select the most relevant results for a given query. If you're looking for adult content, you can find it without having to change the default setting - you just may need to be more explicit in your query if your search terms are potentially ambiguous. The image search settings work the same way as in web and video search."
SafeSearch uses algorithms to filter out objectionable content. By default, it is turned off in Google's main search, except in the US where it is now turned 'on' for image search. However, users can still by-pass SafeSearch simply by clicking the "settings" icon in the top right corner of the search results and unchecking the SafeSearch filtering box.
This fact hasn't been enough to prevent a storm of protest online against users complaining of internet censorship.
"You can take away our privacy, but if you mess with porn, the internet is going to be MAD," said one Reddit user.
"If they got rid of all the porn on the Internet, there would only be one website left, and it would be titled "BRING BACK THE PORN!" said another.
Google's decision to filter explicit content comes shortly as ICM Registry took the wraps off Search.xxx, which allows users to more easily sort through the adult content available on the .xxx domain.
ICM's CEO Stuart Lawley said Google has made a good decision which reinforces the purpose of the .xxx domain to build a destination for adult consumers away from the mainstream internet.
"The effective de-ranking of adult content in an attempt to prevent inadvertent exposure to adult content is a trend we have seen in recent months by the major search engines," Lawley told FoxNews.com. "New top-level domains such as .xxx are only making it easier for consumers to find exactly what they want but at the same time making it easy for those wishing to avoid content."
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