Google places warning on homophobic site it hosts

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • February 24, 2007 - 0:09

The website now features a warning to visitors

19 Comments on Google places warning on homophobic site it hosts

Google has placed a warning on a homophobic blog that allegedly incites the murder of gay people as a result of an investigation by PinkNews.co.uk.

The weblog, called killbattyman, originates in Jamaica. The site carries numerous homophobic statements and also calls for all gay people to be killed.

Visitors to killbattyman.blogspot.com which is hosted by Google's Blogger service now features a warning to visitors telling them that: "Some readers of this blog have contacted Google because they believe this blog's content is hateful." But Google adds: "In general, Google does not review nor do we endorse the content of this or any blog."

On Friday, PinkNews.co.uk raised the issue with the British Association of Chief Police Officers who condemned the site.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Taylor, who works for ACPO's crime committee, told PinkNews.co.uk that they have informed the Internet Watch Foundation about the site.

"ACPO condemn this completely. This is not the sort of thing we want anyone reading on the internet," said DCI Taylor.

It is unclear whether an offence under British law has been committed by the blog's authors or others in the UK, or other jurisdictions, who have distributed the homophobic material.

The blog, which has been on Google's Blogger service since March 2006, features numerous slurs against gay people, including gay activist Peter Tatchell.

Although Google have posted a warning message on the site, the blog is still accessible to users who click a further link. However they reserve the right to "unlist" the site, which will reduce its visibility by new users.

The site can be accessed at KillBattyMan.Blogspot.com

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