"Search options, such as displaying of currency exchange rates, are based on data from external sources," Google Poland said in response to questions sent by tvn24.pl's business section. On Monday (Jan. 1) evening, indexes at a number of websites, including Google, indicated the euro exchange rate at 5.73 PLN. Shortly after, Poland's Finance Minister Andrzej Domański said this information was "fake" and caused by a date source error, reassuring that there was no reason to panic. Had the fake information been true, it would have meant there was a 32% increase compared to Friday's closing.
"Search options, such as displaying of currency exchange rates, are based on data from external sources. In case of reported inconsistencies, we contact the data providers in order to correct the mistakes as soon as possible," Google Poland said on Tuesday (Jan. 2) in its reply to tvn24.pl's query.
On Monday evening, the EUR/PLN exchange rate reported by a number of websites, including Google Finance, caused unrest among internet users. Poland's Finance Minister Andrzej Domański eased the tension by saying on the X platform that "the zloty exchange rate that is causing panic is 'fake' (date source error)".
"In a moment Asian markets will open and the situation will return to normal. Here's how the situtation looks on Bloomberg," Domański added, pointing to a screenshot attached to the post.
Shortly after 11 p.m. CET on Monday, the EUR/PLN currency pair began 2024 at approx. 4.34 PLN.
The turmoil was also caused by the exchange rates of the U.S. dollar, pound sterling, and Swiss franc in relation to the Polish zloty.
Poland's Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Digital Affairs officially asked Google Poland to provide information regarding the causes of the fake publication pertaining to the zloty exchange rate - the ministry said on the X social media platform. It also requested Google to say what steps it aims to take in order to avoid such situations in the future.
In the response to the digital affairs ministry, Google Poland reiterated that the data it publishes comes from external providers and that it cannot guarantee its validity. "The data is displayed in the same form it has been delivered."
Furthermore, the company explained that in case of any reported mistakes it immediately contacts the data provider in order to fix them as soon as possible. "We have also temporarily switched off the exchange rate display function. We apologize for this situation."
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Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvn24.pl
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Shutterstock