14 DAY TRIAL // Bing is often referred to as the only good alternative to Google, and truth be told, Microsoft is the only tech giant in addition to the Mountain View-based rival that keeps investing in search engines.
Bundled into Windows 10 and in other products from various companies, Bing is currently the second most-used search engine, accounting for 33 percent of all searches in the United States, according to Microsoft’s very own figures.
But a study conducted by Standard reveals that despite the market share, Bing doesn’t necessarily provide the best results.
Researchers compared the top 50 results for 13 different queries on Bing and Google, discovering that Microsoft’s search engine displays links to sources known as spreading disinformation and misinformation more often than Google’s.
“In response to a search for “white helmets” — the Syrian civil defense group that has been the subject of disinformation campaigns conducted by the Syrian and Russian governments—Bing shows users at least 12 disinformation articles and untrustworthy sources in its top 50 results. Google shows three,” the study reveals.
Russian propaganda
As far as conspiracy-related content is concerned, Bing is once again trailing behind Google.
“For example, if you search Bing for comet ping pong, you get Pizzagate-related content in its top 50 results. If you search for fluoride, you get content accusing the U.S. government of poisoning its population. And if you search for sandy hook shooting, you will find sources claiming that the event was a hoax. Google does not show users conspiracy-related content in its top 50 results for any of these queries,” the comparison notes.
At the same time, Bing also shows more information related to Russian propaganda than Google, with many more links to RT and Sputnik displayed on Microsoft’s search engine as compared to Google’s.
Microsoft is yet to release any comments on this study, but the company often brags about Bing being “bigger than you think,” so it’ll be interesting to see what the company has to say about these findings.