Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#1

Post by garyclarke27 » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:37 AM UTC

Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
reclaimthenet.org

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#2

Post by sdan » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:49 AM UTC

Original link: https://reclaimthenet.org/google-play-suspends-podcast-addic...

Weird that Apple does this proxying... not going to open up that News app.

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#3

Post by ipsum2 » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:53 AM UTC

My favorite (and only) podcasting app. I hope someone who works at Google reads this and flag it internally.

This quote really sums up how ridiculous Google is being:

> What Google is asking of Podcast Addict would be comparable to Google asking a web browser app to remove references to all the websites and social media posts that reference the coronavirus unless the reference comes from an official government entity or public health organization.

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#4

Post by notRobot » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:54 AM UTC

I don't like this. Podcasts operate on open standards, anyone can launch an RSS feed which can then be played on any app.

Banning this app is like banning web browsers because the allow access "questionable" websites or banning search engines because they index such sites.

I hate how much (dis/mis)information is being spread about COVID-19, but banning an entire podcast app leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#5

Post by tams » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:55 AM UTC

It's a great podcast app which gives the user a ton of freedom and tweaking possibilities, but it's also set and forget.

If this is the first time you hear about it, the safest place to obtain it is the author's Google Drive: https://twitter.com/PodcastAddict/status/1262047866614247425

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#6

Post by dannyw » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:55 AM UTC

> In order to get the app restored, Google is asking Guillemane to remove references to COVID-19 and keywords related to COVID-19 from the app.

So is this a metadata issue, or a content issue?

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#7

Post by lighttower » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:55 AM UTC

I've seen so many of these posts saying, Google removes this or that from the store. But until now I did not realize how criminal this is. I know the Dev. Super guy, addresses help questions from thousands of users personally all without the jaded condescending that many maintainers effuse.

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#8

Post by mijoharas » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:55 AM UTC

Wow, obviously an oversight. Pretty sure Google does not want search tools to be responsible for the content of the results they surface...

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#9

Post by holler » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:57 AM UTC

dannyw wrote: post #6

> In order to get the app restored, Google is asking Guillemane to remove references to COVID-19 and keywords related to COVID-19 from the app. So is this a metadata issue, or a content issue?

It’s a tyrannical anti-trust issue.

Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content

#10

Post by cft » Mon, May 18, 2020, 7:59 AM UTC

I think a socially good deed would be to take the original tweet https://twitter.com/PodcastAddict/status/1261671685477941253... and respond to it tweeting @FTC , @kenpaxtontx (who is behind the antimonopoly case). Google will reinstate the app soon, but it should help building the antimonopoly case against this evil machine.