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

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131–140 of 577 posts

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

#131
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 would love this as well (Linux phone). Sadly not likely to happen on wider scale and nice hardware.

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

#132

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.

Where is the proof of inefficacy? For the record, there's no proof of efficacy either, because all the trials done that prove or disprove efficacy of hydroxychloroquine were flawed in one point or the other (at least the ones I've read).

To give an answer to this endless debate, a proper, randomized clinical trial is needed. And the conditions set correctly, too: lopinavir and ritonavir were, per NEJM, not successful, but a later study in Lancet showed that administration at earlier time points (within 7 days of symptom onset) might be working and needs more investigation.

I know Novartis is running a trial, and so is U of Minnesota[1] which has finally completed enrollment and will release results after peer review.

Oh, and more on topic, it looks like Twitter has blocked a legitimate page of the Canadian part of the same group of trials[2].

[1] https://covidpep.umn.edu/

[2] https://twitter.com/DrToddLee/status/1261442201369939968

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

#133
post #13

COVID-19 is the terrorism of this generation. It's the anything goes, doesn't matter how fair, as long as it's because COVID.

I agree it is being used to reduce freedoms, but I disagree that the parallel to terrorism is very good. Firstly, the risk from terrorism was always going to be sporadic and focused -- it is/was never an effective application of 'force'. For that you need a WMD arsenal like a State. COVID is directly and effectively killing people in massively higher numbers. Secondly, terrorism mitigation was always justified using details and intelligence that the people asking for power (military, intelligence agencies, boarder enforcement) would refuse to share. The public would not be privy to the justifications in the interests of National Security. Again, with COVID, we instead are getting statistics summaries from the government but they are being sourced from public sources of civilian interaction, namely hospitals, research labs, universities. The public can second-source and confirm the justifications. The interventions are currently being couched as temporary with some caveats regarding medical research and immunity. If COVID interventions become overly protracted, we the public can protest along with the current Trumpian crazies (who have the right very basal idea but are utterly confused and probably co-opted with regard to who they are shouting at and when they should have started shouting.) Terrorism threat assessment is privileged process. Quite different IMHO. Unfortunately only "time will tell" if COVID morphs into this secret control state in some way, currently it's all open-source. Until then, all power to the medical and epidemiology bodies and I will shout at anyone getting in THEIR way.

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

#134
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.

What do you mean? Pinephone is alive and well and you can get your own Linux "toy" for $150. Can't say much about Librem 5, but afaik they are also shipping.

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

#135
Google is under a great deal of scrutiny by governments right now. Their collective fight-or-flight behavior has kicked in and they're starting to exhibit some pretty crazy behavior.

There's never been a better time to excise Google from your life, or if you work there, to excise your life from theirs.

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

#136
post #81
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except in this case it's not the government, but private corporations taking some kind of political stance. Google in particular has been very "active," not to forget also: https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-will-ban-anything-ag... ("video that 'goes against' WHO guidance on the pandemic will be blocked")

There is a lot of pressure on the large tech companies to stop spreading misinformation. This is one of their measures.

So the government-approved information is OK but other information is "misinformation"?

Finding excuses for big tech does not help.

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

#137
post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's a service to public health to take down crap . People spreading "covid19 is fake" propaganda are literally getting themselves, their parents and friends killed . Freedom of speech also comes with responsibility - the responsibility of not endangering others with your speech. Similar as inciting hatred and screaming "fire" in a crowded restaurant will earn you jail time, people should be happy it's only their…

>"fire" in a crowded restaurant I'm so sick of hearing this "argument" against free speech. Yelling fire is not free speech. Never has been. Inciting hatred is however, and since you're inciting hatred yourself, with wanting innocent people to die or throw them in jail, I hope you live in a country that has free speech laws, or you might be looking at jail time yourself.

> and since you're inciting hatred yourself, with wanting innocent people to die or throw them in jail

I have explicitly stated that I am against innocent people to die as a consequence of people spouting propaganda. As for those to be thrown into jail for spouting propaganda, these are not innocent.

> I hope you live in a country that has free speech laws

I do, I'm German and we strike a sensible balance between freedom of speech and protecting people from deadly propaganda, although I'd like a bit more strict regulations especially forcing social networks to hire actual German people for moderation who understand cultural context and have enough time for a reasonable informed moderation decision.

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

#138
post #69
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.

Except in this case it's not the government, but private corporations taking some kind of political stance. Google in particular has been very "active," not to forget also: https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-will-ban-anything-ag... ("video that 'goes against' WHO guidance on the pandemic will be blocked")

> private corporations taking some kind of political stance.

It's not a political stance, it's a moderation action.

Google, Facebook, etc. are just bad moderators of their platforms.

Selective enforcement of moderations policies is bad moderation. Implementing automated moderation without proper quality control is bad moderation. Implementing automated moderation without proper appeal processes is bad moderation.

The moderation policy is insane, but I think how moderation is done is even more insane.

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

#139
> 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.

Give it a few years

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

#140

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.

Where is the proof of inefficacy? For the record, there's no proof of efficacy either, because all the trials done that prove or disprove efficacy of hydroxychloroquine were flawed in one point or the other (at least the ones I've read). To give an answer to this endless debate, a proper, randomized clinical trial is needed. And the conditions set correctly, too: lopinavir and ritonavir were, per NEJM, not successful…

> Where is the proof of inefficacy?

It doesn't work that way. New drugs are assumed ineffective until proven otherwise. A government official with no medical training recommending an unproven drug based on a few anecdotes is the height of irresponsibility.

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