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

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

#121

Post by cft »

Crosseye_Jack wrote: post #71
huffmsa wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With the Advent of the omnibar, they are necessarily search engines

An argument there could be that the user still gets to choose which search engine the omnibar gets sent to. I don't agree with Googles decision (I strongly disagree with it). Just stating that under the letter of the law (of the app stores policies) I can see why app stores feel they have the power to govern the search results in such apps (iirc web browsers have a exception to the clause - /me goes to double check G…

https://twitter.com/PodcastAddict/status/1261805845735604224...

Nothing in the metadata. Pure evil.

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

#122

Post by fauigerzigerk »

random32840 wrote: post #118
fauigerzigerk wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because their action seems consistent with their stated intention of banning all non-official speech on Covid-19? It could still be reversed if they feel public opinion swings the other way. That wouldn't mean it's automation gone wrong.

It may be automated based on frequency of reports, but either way this is unlikely to be company policy. The people who make these decisions are relatively low-level employees following a company guidebook. The guidebook says it has to go? It has to go. The employee doesn't want to get fired. I doubt it'll stick.

>...but either way this is unlikely to be company policy

Perhaps you haven't seen the article because it's behind an Apple News link. There's a screenshot of a message stating company policy as follows:

"Pursuant to Section 8.3 of the Developer Agreement and the Enforcement policy, apps referencing Covid-19, or related terms, in any form will only be approved for distribution on Google Play if they are published, commissioned or authorized by official government entities or public health organizations"

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

#123

Post by prittgluestick »

kleiba wrote: post #65

I've never lived in China but this immediately sounds like my (naive) idea of what it must be like: you're only allowed to consume what the government has approved. I think this is setting a dangerous precedence.

gated institutional narrative

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

#124

Post by dreamcompiler »

Pretty ironic given that an "official government source" advocated the ineffective and dangerous drug hydroxychloroquine and suggested people inject bleach into their bodies.

Edit: Changed hydroxyquinone to the correct hydroxychloroquine.

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

#126

Post by tjhrewr234234 »

choward wrote: post #78

I've been getting away from apps installed from the play store over the years. This is one of the 2 remaining apps I have that I paid for. This is appalling behavior my Google. I can't wait until I can make a real Linux based phone my daily driver.

> I can't wait until I can make a real Linux based phone my daily driver.

Alas, all the competitors are now moribund, and much of the market couldn't give two hoots about privacy issues.

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

#129

Post by mcintyre1994 »

Do Google offer a more censored version of Apple's Podcasts index? My favourite podcast app on iOS (Overcast) uses Apple's index as its source for search/recommendations (though obviously you can add any other feed yourself) and there's heaps and heaps of non-Government approved podcasts on the topic. If you run a Podcasting app on Android, does an index even exist that you can use and remain compliant?

Whatever index they use on podcasts.google.com is full of the same, so I'm leaning toward no. https://podcasts.google.com/?q=covid19&hl=en-GB

It sounds like it is the indexing that's the issue here. Worth noting that if they ever crack down on Podcast apps being able to play non-indexed content they'll wipe out the whole Patreon economy around podcasts, which relies on sharing private feeds with subscribers.

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

#130

Post by katktv »

I just noticed that this is the same shit right wing organization that conveniently protects alt-right stuff when it gets banned from somewhere. Can we please not promote this kind of stuff here?

Edit: to back myself up.

Here is this website standing behind authoritarian right-wing government doing antisemitic dogwhistles: https://reclaimthenet.org/hungarian-government-facebook-over...

Here it is protecting conspiracy theorists against "censorship": https://reclaimthenet.org/youtube-demonetizes-sgtreport-trur...

Here it is covering the ban of a known right-wing troll (also piss drinker) Joey Salads: https://reclaimthenet.org/twitter-suspends-joey-salads/

Here it is supporting a fringe far-right social network Gab a bunch of times: https://reclaimthenet.org/gab-biggest-mastadon-node/ https://reclaimthenet.org/new-gab-decentralized-version/ https://reclaimthenet.org/gab-chat/ https://reclaimthenet.org/gab-pro-benefits/

It's just so much consistent support for basically fascists on this. Propping this website up is dangerous.

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