Google says it ‘needs to do better’ after antisemitic reviews left of Auschwitz
Search engine giant criticised after 'sickening' comments left on its Maps rating platform by anonymous users
Google has admitted it “needs to do better” to prevent hate on its platform amid anger over antisemitic reviews of Auschwitz
An investigation by the Guardian revealed more than 150 hate-filled comments were left on Google Maps for the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum.
Among antisemitic comments included “Heil Hitler” and “It’s a shame the SS was disbanded so long ago”. According to the Guardian, the overwhelming majority of comments were anonymous.
Auschwitz operated as an extermination and concentration camp during the Holocaust, and more than 1.1million people were murdered there.
A Google spokesperson told Jewish News: “We are appalled by these reviews on our platform and are taking action to remove the content and prevent further abuse. We have clear policies that prohibit offensive and fake reviews and we work around the clock to monitor Maps. In this case, we know we need to do better and are working to evaluate and improve our detection systems.”
It also confirmed that the comments were removed immediately when flagged, while accounts were suspended and disabled.
Condemning the “sickening” comments, Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said: “This is an endless stream of ‘jokes’, insults and belittling of the place where 1.1 million people were murdered just because they were Jewish. These posts are deeply offensive and antisemitic.”
Google need to take responsibility for the hate being shared on their site and take steps to monitor and remove such abhorrent content, and improve and change their moderation and policies.”
76 years on from the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, with survivors still sharing their harrowing testimonies, it is shocking and disturbing to see these Google reviews of Auschwitz Memorial and Museum – a place that deserves sombre and dignified reflection and remembrance.”
A CST spokesperson told the Guardian: “These so-called ‘reviews’ of Auschwitz are grotesque and there is absolutely no justification for Google’s failure to remove them.
“It is sadly predictable that the listing for Auschwitz would attract antisemitic comments and Google ought to have systems in place to address this.”
They added: “Unfortunately [Google’s] failure to do so is yet another example of the need for effective regulation through the online harms bill. It is clear that the platforms’ existing policies are not doing the job.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
