This is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those who have fought and died for our freedoms. One would not think in this country that a search engine available in the US would be censored. One would be wrong. I realize this is big in China, but apparently it is catching on. Wonder who the "concerned citizen" was. 

The following is from Mr. Nemerov. 

Recently, any search on Dog Pile using the keywords “gun control” or “gun” results in an intermediate page telling me that this is “adult content” and to click another link to continue. Using keywords “gun control”, selecting to include “adult content” results in 74 links, while selecting for “no adult content” brings back 65 results.

 I cannot find any URLs which are truly adult content, meaning naked body parts or sex acts, etc. This is a new “feature” brought about by a complaint by a “concerned user” as noted below. If you have the time, please send a complaint to InfospaceSD@infospace.egain.net with the subject line “Re: Censorship? [#23126]” and let’s see if they play fair by reversing this action due to response from “concerned users.”

 My original inquiry is at the bottom of this email, their response is just below this text. Please be reasonable but firm. Why should gun banners and hoplophobes get away with the process of marginalizing and driving us from the Internet?

 Please send me a copy of any response you receive from Infospace, the owner of Dog Pile. I will collate them and if necessary, begin a public campaign to shame them into doing the right thing. Using the First Amendment to quash the Second has got to stop, and this is a good time to draw the line.

 Sincerely,

--Original Message--
From: hnemerov@netvista.net
Date: 5/25/2007 7:00:56 AM
To: customer_support@dogpile.com
Subject: Censorship?

When I search for "Howard Nemerov gun control" I get an intermediate page saying I have to choose if I want to see "adult" content. If I select yes to view those pages (whatever they are) every link is a non-sexual web site, either a political blog or op/ed/news site. I expected sites with suspicious URLs that probably showed female anatomy or something stupid like that. So what's up? This changed since around the time of the Virginia Tech mass murder. Have guns become adult content?

-----Original Message-----
From: Infospace SD [mailto:InfospaceSD@infospace.egain.net]
Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2007 5:17 PM
To: hnemerov@netvista.net
Subject: Re: Censorship? [#23126]

 Hello,

Thank you for writing to Infospace Support.

The reason that the site is being filtered is because of a reporting from a concerned user, not unlike yourself. They had reported content of an objectionable nature. Upon the reporting, it was added to our filter. Our support office doesn't have the access to add/ remove any filters. We would forward all requests to our webmaster for consideration.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused. Have a good and safe Memorial Day.

Thank you,

Infospace Support

Then I received this:

Dog Pile has decided to block this email chain. In order to forward your complaints, go to www.dogpile.com and click on “Contact Us” on the lower middle of the page. This will take you to their complaint form.

As pointed out by correspondent Jack Anderson, Dogpile has updated their software as of yesterday, May 30. “Gun” is no longer considered adult content, and the reference on the top of each page to “DestinationXXXX” is also gone.

Citizen advocacy works. Congratulations to all of you who contacted Infospace, owner of Dogpile.

Howard Nemerov