In the eyes of some Google executives and some web experts, the Google search engine measures the reputation of online sources. But does the search engine really evaluate reputation? In this article we examine the search engine’s various information processing methods from four angles: documentary (the reputation indicators visible in the interface), algorithmic (the technical and mathematical models used), emotional (the handling of opinions expressed online and their effects on users), and managerial (the discourse of web experts on use of the search engine). To do so, we offer a critical analysis of the search engine’s various features from the perspective of the concept of reputation, and through the discourse of professional users regarding the issue.