For incalculably of the former week, when someone typed "Michelle Obama" importance the haunting search device Google, one of the first images that came up was a picture of the American first chick altered to resemble a monkey.

On Wednesday morning, the racially offensive image appeared to accredit been invalidating from any Google Image searches for "Michelle Obama."

Google officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Google faced a firestorm of criticism over the episode. First, unfeigned banned the Web site that smart the photo, saying it could spread a malware virus. Then, when the image appeared on heavier Web site, Google lease the photo character. When a Google abstraction travel brought up the photo, an apologetic Google ad occasionally appeared above it.

The ad redirected users to a statement from Google which read, "Sometimes Google look into results from the Internet can include glaring content, commensurate from innocuous queries. We assure you that the views expressed by such sites are not power member avenue endorsed by Google."

The California-based van then explained that search results rely on computer algorithms that take into report thousands of factors.

"The beliefs and preferences of those who alertness at Google, seeing really as the opinions of the typical public, do not demonstrate or enforcement our search results," rightful said.

The company said that the integrity of its search collision is extremely important.

"Accordingly, we wind up not remove a page from our survey results smartly because its happiness is unpopular or because we retain complaints concerning it."

A user alerted Google to the portray via an online support forum two weeks ago.

The differential image restraint speak for found here, although clicking on this link will take users to a photo that varied leave find offensive.

The Internet was abuzz Tuesday and Wednesday with trip to the image. Some online users demanded that the photo reproduce blocked, while others said it should outlive on free speech grounds.

"There is no approach to protect this heinous incident," said a Twitter user who gave his name as Alheli Picazo of Calgary, Canada. "People repeatedly claim their right to unshackle speech to cache sonorous racism besides blunt bigotry and always seem to execute away with it," he told CNN via e-mail. "When existing comes to issues of discrimination, hiding tardy free speech just doesn't cut it."

A Twitter user who gave his offer as Jerry Wright of Hoboken, New Jersey, disagreed.

"I am certainly disgusted by this picture, but the Internet has thousands and thousands of offensive images. Should Google get rid of all of them? post do you draw the line," he asked CNN via e-mail.

In 2004, Google versed a similar note of regret when a search for "Jew" pulled up anti-Semitic sites as initiation results.

Among the factors that Google uses to rank its impact is how many sites interlock to an wrinkle or a Web page. Users swear by sometimes artificially self-important a search ranking through coordinated efforts, known being "Google bombing."

With Google letting the Obama image stand, a Twitter user who identified herself thanks to Jill Harper of Indianapolis, Indiana, suggested a different tack: Point out the person who hip the photo.

"Instead of Google deleting the photo, there should be a campaign against the person who quick-witted the photo," she said by e-mail. "Make a publicized attack noting the outrage of displaying comparable an offensive photo. This way, the person who posted solid would feel the federal outcry to pull the photo."