Summary:
- Google’s search algorithm heavily favors Indian media outlets, giving them up to 90% visibility in search results while pushing Bangladeshi news sources to 13th-14th pages, even for events occurring within Bangladesh.
- The bias stems from India’s larger digital presence, English-language dominance, and superior SEO capabilities, which gives Indian media higher “domain authority” in Google’s ranking system.
- This algorithmic preference affects international stakeholders’ perception of Bangladesh, potentially influencing diplomatic relations and investment decisions while promoting potentially biased or sensationalized coverage.
- While Google successfully prioritizes local news in other regions like the US, it fails to apply the same technology for Bangladeshi content, raising concerns about digital equity and representation.
A comprehensive study by Tech Global Institute has uncovered a significant bias in Google’s search algorithm that systematically favors Indian media outlets over Bangladeshi sources, even for events occurring within Bangladesh. The research, released on December 29, 2024, highlights how this algorithmic preference contributes to the spread of disinformation and distorts international perspectives on Bangladeshi affairs.
The investigation revealed that Google Search results consistently prioritize Indian news sources, with Indian outlets claiming up to 90% of top placements globally. Major Bangladeshi newspapers like The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and The Business Standard are often relegated to the thirteenth or fourteenth pages of search results.
“Bangladeshi news outlets, better positioned to provide firsthand coverage and local context, are conspicuously absent” from top search results, the study notes. This bias persists regardless of user location, whether searching from Bangladesh, Australia, the EU, the UK, or the US.
The research identified several key factors contributing to this disparity. India’s larger digital footprint and extensive English-language content production give its media outlets higher “domain authority” in Google’s ranking system. Additionally, Indian publishers’ superior search engine optimization capabilities and higher engagement metrics further amplify their visibility.
This algorithmic bias has far-reaching implications. The dominance of Indian media perspectives particularly affects how international stakeholders, including governments, investors, and multilateral agencies, perceive events in Bangladesh. The study warns that this skewed representation can influence diplomatic relations, investment decisions, and regional stability assessments.
The report contrasts Google’s handling of local news in other regions, noting that the search engine successfully prioritizes local coverage for events in places like Madison, US, demonstrating that the technology for regional content prioritization exists but isn’t effectively applied to Bangladesh.
Tech Global Institute emphasizes that this issue extends beyond mere search results, potentially exacerbating regional tensions and undermining diplomatic efforts in South Asia, where cross-border sensitivities are already heightened.
The findings raise crucial questions about digital equity and representation in global information systems, highlighting the need for more balanced algorithmic frameworks that can better serve diverse international communities while preserving local journalistic voices.
Source: TBS News
