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Ashley Cole's solicitor has demanded to know why Google are linking his client with the word 'gay' in their internet search results.
If you type 'Ashley Cole' into Google, the service brings up the option 'See results for: Ashley Cole gay.'
It is not known whether the high volume of searches for 'Ashley Cole gay' is the explanation or whether there has been an editorial decision to suggest the word 'gay' when someone searches for 'Ashley Cole'.
Cole has brought a libel action against the News of the World and The Sun over stories about allegedly bisexual but unnamed Premiership players.
Although he was not named in the stories, Cole's solicitor Graham Shear will claim that juxtaposition of stories about his client sparked internet rumours that Cole was one of the footballers involved.
Shear has now asked Google to explain this anomaly with their search engine, telling pinknews.co.uk: "I am keen to find out whether the decision to automatically include the term ‘gay’ to the keyword ‘Ashley Cole’ was an editorial decision or one made by a computer based on the volume of searches for ‘Ashley Cole’ linked to the word ‘gay’.
"I would be interested in when and what prompted this and whether the process started since we launched the cases against the News of the World and The Sun or before."
It has also emerged that Choice FM DJ Ian Thompson, known as Masterstepz, is suing the News of the World and The Sun for defamation.
Although he was not named in the stories, solicitors will claim that a pixellated picture of Thompson and Cole was used to illustrate the article.
Meanwhile; the Daily Mail claims that Cole has been ruled out of action for the next six weeks, putting his participation in the World Cup in serious doubt.
If you type 'Ashley Cole' into Google, the service brings up the option 'See results for: Ashley Cole gay.'
It is not known whether the high volume of searches for 'Ashley Cole gay' is the explanation or whether there has been an editorial decision to suggest the word 'gay' when someone searches for 'Ashley Cole'.
Cole has brought a libel action against the News of the World and The Sun over stories about allegedly bisexual but unnamed Premiership players.
Although he was not named in the stories, Cole's solicitor Graham Shear will claim that juxtaposition of stories about his client sparked internet rumours that Cole was one of the footballers involved.
Shear has now asked Google to explain this anomaly with their search engine, telling pinknews.co.uk: "I am keen to find out whether the decision to automatically include the term ‘gay’ to the keyword ‘Ashley Cole’ was an editorial decision or one made by a computer based on the volume of searches for ‘Ashley Cole’ linked to the word ‘gay’.
"I would be interested in when and what prompted this and whether the process started since we launched the cases against the News of the World and The Sun or before."
It has also emerged that Choice FM DJ Ian Thompson, known as Masterstepz, is suing the News of the World and The Sun for defamation.
Although he was not named in the stories, solicitors will claim that a pixellated picture of Thompson and Cole was used to illustrate the article.
Meanwhile; the Daily Mail claims that Cole has been ruled out of action for the next six weeks, putting his participation in the World Cup in serious doubt.
