<s>
The	O
search	B-Application
engine	I-Application
manipulation	I-Application
effect	I-Application
(	O
SEME	O
)	O
is	O
a	O
term	O
invented	O
by	O
Robert	O
Epstein	O
in	O
2015	O
to	O
describe	O
a	O
hypothesized	O
change	O
in	O
consumer	O
preferences	O
and	O
voting	O
preferences	O
by	O
search	O
engines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
response	O
to	O
the	O
allegations	O
,	O
Google	B-Application
denied	O
re-ranking	O
search	O
results	O
to	O
manipulate	O
user	O
sentiment	O
,	O
or	O
tweaking	O
ranking	O
specially	O
for	O
elections	O
or	O
political	O
candidates	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Epstein	O
had	O
previously	O
disputed	O
with	O
Google	B-Application
over	O
his	O
website	O
,	O
and	O
posted	O
opinion	O
pieces	O
and	O
essays	O
fiercely	O
attacking	O
Google	B-Application
afterward	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
claimed	O
without	O
evidence	O
that	O
Google	B-Application
was	O
using	O
its	O
influence	O
to	O
ensure	O
Hillary	O
Clinton	O
was	O
elected	O
in	O
the	O
2016	O
United	O
States	O
presidential	O
election	O
.	O
</s>
