r/ukguns • u/Len_S_Ball_23 • 13d ago

Is Google censoring search results?

Gallery image

Gallery image

So I've been looking for a Barra 250z and subsequently found out it's also the Snowpeak M30c as a result of asking around. The air tank is effectively the shroud around the barrel resulting in a bull barrel and no horrible chunky tank to spoil its looks (personal bugbear of current pcp rifles).

As you'll see by the images the first is a Google search set on "All" of which there are several businesses to buy from, but, if I want to draw all the comparisons together under the "Shopping" tab on my browser (Opera mobile) - suddenly Google has gone blind and stupid and "cannot find any matches".

Anyone else find that?

18 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

20

u/Schoolboymafia 13d ago

It does it with all firearms no matter where you are.

1

u/Donny-Kong 10d ago

Even searching gun shops near me or rifle clubs google rarely brings up anything of use. But if you’re super specific like “gun shop name on specific street” then it will come up. Makes finding new places really hard.

12

u/Mental-Penalty3572 13d ago

But yes heavily censored

10

u/Mental-Penalty3572 13d ago

Try setting a VPN to America and try again

7

u/mr_mlk 13d ago

Assuming I'm reading this right, shopping page requires sellers to opt-in and Google explicitly restricts "dangerous items", so I doubt many RFDs bothers opting in for any stock they can have under Google Shopping.

5

u/Gunnybar13 13d ago

Try ProtonVPN and search again, maybe less censoring

4

u/Len_S_Ball_23 13d ago

Seems I can only post one image but give it a try?

2

u/kojak_79 12d ago

It's your isp parental lock and Google safe search if you have it on

5

u/davehaslanded 12d ago

It could be your ISP. Strangely enough, I was trying to look for rifle accessories the other day at work. Nothing gun related would load, & would return an error as if the site was down. I activated my VPN, still set to uk, as they were uk sites, & they worked. Turns out that NHS have filtered anything remotely to do with firearms/airsoft etc. I’m wondering if other ISPs do the same as standard (you usually have to opt out of family safety controls with your ISP now when you sign up)

2

u/Papfox 12d ago

Have you turned Google Safesearch off?

2

u/SakanaToDoubutsu American 12d ago

Google Shopping isn't like a regular Google search, it's a marketing product from Google so everything you see paid to be there. I don't know what the exact terms & conditions are, but I can almost guarantee that regulated products like firearms can't be listed on there.

1

u/Len_S_Ball_23 11d ago

It's probably anything to do with "guns" rather than firearm or air rifle specific...

2

u/Myopinion1000 12d ago

Google, Ebay, YouTube etc they all do it. It's all part of the politically correct virtue signalling "guns/knives are bad and too scary and controversial so we have to censor them all" agenda by these politically correct mainstream billionaire online corporate companies desperately trying to keep users, look family friendly, avoid "controversy" etc.

1

u/Len_S_Ball_23 11d ago

Thanks guys, will try all suggested.

1

u/Leather-Elderberry35 11d ago

Online safety act?

1

u/Len_S_Ball_23 11d ago

Probably 🙄

1

u/Mental-Penalty3572 1d ago

Yeah 100% heavily censored

Try changing your location using a mock gps app and IP using a VPN to America id imagine you'll have better luck