Eine alternative Definition von Suchneutralität / An alternative definition of search neutrality

This paper proposes a new and more economically motivated definition of search neutrality. To deliver relevant results for each query a search engine has to choose from a large range of potential hits and rank results in a certain order. In the course of doing so, a search engine has to apply a set of relevance criteria, which is necessarily shaped by its own judgements. Therefore calls for „objective“ or „fair“ search results seem to be illusionary and misled. As we see an analogy between Internet search and the editorial selection process in media outlets, we define search neutrality negatively in terms of a media bias. According to our proposed definition, non-neutral search results differ systematically, sustainably and intentionally from user preferences in order to generate additional profit for the search provider.