Should the Google search engines remove illegal content from its database?

I do not think any search engine should remove, limit, restrict, or otherwise censor content. A search engine is not a conscience, a search engine is not a parent, a search engine is not a mentor, a search engine is not the law, and what a search engine wants or chooses to put within it SeRPs is up to each search engine individually. The best search engines will be the most complete and the most accessible.

I believe any restriction on what is allowed as content would make a search engine less useful almost to the point of uselessness. If I wanted to search "What not to do with bomb making materials" where would I go to without a complete search engine? If I wanted to search for "global sex trade" where would I search without a complete search engine?

If I wanted to search for anything.. which search engine would I choose to use the one that is as complete as possible or the one that might or might not have what I am looking for? To me this is as much about censorship as usefulness. I am capable of viewing any content with my full mental capacity intact and feel I should not be disallowed to view any content I wish because someone else cannot or because someone else feels that I should not view that content.

What is and is not acceptable is up to the individual and I feel it is not up to the search engine to decide what is and is not acceptable. How good would my public library (yes I still visit regularly) be if they had only books approved by a filter like a committee or a executive board? Not much use to me.. as access to information and completeness of information are what determine the value of any collection of information to me.

Incomplete or inaccessible are virtually useless and inherently not valuable to me. It is up to me to protect myself form harm ..not a search engine.

No, is my answer. I am unswervingly in favor of open information and allowing readers to make up their own minds about what they will choose to read or choose to ignore. I do not believe there is ever an excuse for censorship (with the single exception of protecting the lives of undercover officers).

I'm against restrictions as a whole, the truth is that if society becomes much more restricted than it already is we'll be edging pretty close to fascism. Anyways, getting back on point, you make it sound as if google isn't already doing alot to fight against these kinds of threats... The truth is that google is constantly blacklisting and severely penalizing sites that contain viruses or use blackhat methods of self-promotion. The fact of the matter is that is hard and almost impossible to get viruses and the like from simply surfing around on google.

I mean seriously... none of the sites anywhere near the top of their search results is out rampantly spreading viruses and spam... Just think about it, and it is obvious to anyone who understands SEO concepts.

To put it another way, like @buddawiggi put it, it's up to ME and my own COMMON SENSE to protect me from harm. Google or the government shouldn't have to tell me or block me from information or content. Google already has its safeguards if a website could be a threat.

Majority of people have anti-virus and spyware blockers, and even ad-blockers. The best way to protect from threats is at home with the user(s).

Every one of you who is bulshitting here about open information, try to write a BOOK and then you see that your BREAD it taken away from YOU and YOUR CHILDREN by bulshitters who publish it on torrents. I wish you to ONCE be there on the other side! Worth thousand words!

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.