Google on Wednesday apologized to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his image began appearing in image search results for the query “top 10 criminals in India,” according to multiple media reports. The list also included 1993 Mumbai bombings mastermind Dawood Ibrahim, American gangster Al Capone, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
After many political leaders and commentators began expressing concern, Google issued a statement of apology for “any misunderstanding or confusion.”
The search giant said: “These results trouble us and are not reflective of the opinions of Google. Sometimes, the way images are described on the internet can yield surprising results to specific queries.”
Google reportedly explained that the search query results were due to a British daily publishing an image of Modi with erroneous metadata.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com