Google removes New Hampshire town’s default image result after locals complained
Londonderry officials said the 2013 wedding photo of state Rep. Al Baldasaro did not represent the town.
Curious about Londonderry, New Hampshire? For inquiring minds on the internet, their first impression of the town may have been particularly unusual.
Google “Londonderry” or “Londonderry, New Hampshire,” and the default photo that appeared on the “Knowledge Panel” — located on the right side of the search engine results page — was not of its local apple orchard, its famed marching band, or any number of the town’s historic landmarks.
It was an old wedding photo of Al Baldasaro, a local state representative and outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, posing with his gun-wielding wife and bridal party.
That was until Tuesday.
After Londonderry town officials complained about the photo, Google confirmed Tuesday afternoon to Boston.com that the photo was in the process of being removed.
As the Union Leader reported earlier Tuesday, local officials had complained to the tech company that the photo was unrepresentative of the town.
“We would like something that includes more of a New England feel,” Londonderry town council chairman John Farrell told the New Hampshire newspaper.
Farrell said they had repeatedly asked Google to replace the Baldasaro photo and even sent the tech company a formal letter from the town’s legal counsel, per the Union Leader:
“The town council is unconcerned about people’s opinion of Rep. Baldasaro, the firearms or anything else that might render the photograph remarkable to others. The town council is concerned, however, that regardless of the image the photograph creates in viewers’ minds, it is not one that fairly represents the town of Londonderry.
The response they reportedly received from Google was that the photo was determined by the number of hits and the search engine’s algorithm. Farrell noted that Baldasaro had been very active during Trump’s presidential campaign.
“Apparently he was Googled a lot,” said the town councilman.
For his part, Baldasaro — who is known for, among other things, calling for the execution of former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton last summer — agreed the photo should be removed and tweeted that his wife had emailed the company.
The Republican lawmaker told the Union Leader he thought somewhat-infamous 2013 photo “had no business being there” and should not be associated with the town. Baldasaro added that the backlash he received from the photo when it was first published on social media “hurt [his] children at the time.”
Google confirmed Tuesday afternoon, roughly three hours after the Union Leader article was published, that the photo was removed from Londonderry’s “Knowledge Panel.” The company said they hope to display a relevant and useful photo for Londonderry in the future.
Baldasaro told the Union Leader he would suggest either Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, which is located mostly in Londonderry, or a local orchard.
The updated Knowledge Panel for Londonderry only displays a map image of the town.
