An Android website asked for submissions for "any tasty ideas that start with the letter N" for its new "Android N" operating platform, which was unveiled at its Google I/O developers conference on Wednesday.
(Also see: Google I/O 2016 Highlights)
The backlash ranged from gentle ribbing to invocations of the term "the n-word," which is frequently used as a stand-in for an offensive racial slur.
"Google please do not ask the internet to send you n-words," tweeted Jon Hendren (@fart) a so-called "DevOps thought leader."
A representative for Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, declined to comment.
(Also see: Google I/O 2016: Android Auto, Android TV, and Other Announcements)
"Android Nope #NameAndroidN," tweeted Schrodinger Cait (@stimpyjaycat).
"I think it's obvious how #nameandroidn can go terribly wrong lol," tweeted Tom (@skullisnull).
Gizmodo reported on Wednesday that the online anonymous message board 4chan was flooding the Android's name submission site with suggestions akin to an offensive epithet for black people.
Some social media users suggested "nachos," "Nutella" and "nectarine."
© Thomson Reuters 2016
For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2025 hub.