For a brief period on Thursday, former US President Joe Biden's name was conspicuously absent from Google search results for queries like "US Presidents" and "US Presidents in order." Social media users were quick to point out the omission, claiming that search results incorrectly listed Donald Trump as the last two presidents, with no mention of Biden.
According to a report by The Independent, the issue appeared to affect searches listing US presidents in chronological order. While earlier presidents like Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton were displayed accurately, the results skipped over Biden entirely. Users shared screenshots of the anomaly, sparking speculation about the reasons behind his exclusion.
The error, however, was short-lived. Google addressed the problem and corrected the results around 2 am ET (12:30 pm IST).
Google Offers Explanation
When questioned about the matter, Google clarified that the error was unintentional and attributed it to a "data error" within its knowledge graph. "We identified the root cause and resolved it quickly," a Google spokesperson told CNBC.
Despite Google's prompt resolution, the glitch prompted some social media users to allege foul play, speculating that the omission could be a deliberate move to favour Donald Trump. Google has not commented on these claims, maintaining that it was a technical issue rather than intentional interference.