I had the same issue. I developed a legit and anonymous contact-tracing app [1], and there is no way I can easily distribute it on the app stores as Google and Apple unconditionally ban any app that makes any reference to the current pandemic.
Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
171–180 of 577 posts
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#172Earlier quoted context omitted.
That’s an interesting example because YouTube are also removing COVID-19 content from some disreputable sources. To be clear: I’m not defending Google, I also don’t agree with the podcast takedown.
I found this very quickly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgln8rjuIMU&feature=share
I didn't say their algorithm was flawless, just that they are removing content.
Here's a few citations:
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52388586
https://fee.org/articles/youtube-to-ban-content-that-contrad...
https://www.theblaze.com/news/youtube-will-remove-any-corona...
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-ramps-up-actio...
These haven't been cherry picked, they're the top 4 results on a DDG search.
Your example only demonstrates that you don't understand the difficulty in censoring content on social platforms as enormous as YouTube; not that Google don't have a policy that prohibits such content.
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#173I'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.
They will be too busy arguing about systemd or similar rather than working on the UX so it will never happen. The Linux world seems to strive for perfection (despite everyone's idea of perfection being different) when they barely have the resources to do even a "good enough" solution.
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#174My 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…
I have yet to find better then AntennaPod[0]
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#175I just downloaded google podcast app. Did a search for corona, there are a bunch of results. Google is not a government entity, neither are all the podcasts I could find using it. I hope they will ban their own podcast app pretty soon.
Make sure you flag Google Podcasts as inappropriate, giving the references to coronavirus as the reason.
Link for convenience: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/cont...
The package name is 'com.google.android.apps.podcasts'
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#176Earlier quoted context omitted.
YouTube constantly recommends me COVID-19 conspiracy videos since I dared to watch one that was popular here in Germany. Basically on every video I watch I have now german conspiracy videos as recommendations. I did neither like the video or did I subscribe the channel. It's beyond fucked up what Google is doing.
If you want to watch something one-off, some interesting tidbit outside of your curated feed then doing it in incognito mode is required, otherwise, as you noted you are doomed.
Yup. It's just what do these recommendations do to the society? If you are suspectible to believe certain content for whatever reasons you are basically doomed as you get caged into an echo chamber that only validates the bullshit that is fed to you.
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#177This is like Google banning the YouTube app from the play store for having videos about covid that aren't from government sources. Insane stuff.
> Insane stuff Google is actually applying the same standard in this case (or at least attempting to). They're also fighting conspiracy theories on YouTube.
It's a great pity all the factual comments about YouTube's COVID-19 video removal policy (or "censorship" depending on your viewpoint) are being down voted while all the anti-Google rhetoric is floating above it.
I get it's cool to hate Google these days and I'm not saying I agree with the removal of the podcast app, however the removal of that app is consistent with how Google have been maintaining some of their other platforms too. This isn't a theoretical point either, it's been well documented in the news and talked to death on here too. So regardless of my opinion of Google (and to be clear: I'm not fan either) I still can't help feeling that all the "Google are hypocrites" remarks being made are completely ignorant of the fact that Google are actually removing content on YouTube as well.
Here's a bunch of citations that proves this and the GP comments are actually correct despite the down votes: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23220864
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#178And meanwhile you can use Google to search for "covid19 podcast" and you will get podcast recommendations from non-government sources. This is insane.
The object of censorship is silencing dissent. A million clueless searches vs a few informed dissenting voices, which is more troubling for authoritarian regimes? You can search all you want, but can you share what you have learned? Welcome to our "new normal".
Sure, here's me sharing a page I got to from a Google Search, hosted by Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXN0Zml...
On it you can listen to a podcast about Covid 19 from a media company that is not a government agency or health organisation.
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#179In most of these stories featuring Google abusing their power to remove apps, it's usually a matter of some automated tool gone wrong and the problem is solved a couple of days later. But this time it's different, they are actually asking developers to censor themselves if they are not affiliated with a gov.
Meh. If I left an automation roaming the streets and it ate someone’s kid I would get in trouble.
If google’s automations are broken and they harm the world then they need to be responsible and fix them or replace them with people.
Re: Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19 content
#180Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a lot of pressure on the large tech companies to stop spreading misinformation. This is one of their measures.
In the USA? The pressure comes entirely from their straight-from-college activist workforce, with nothing to do and no vision to aim for they've degenerated into constant virtue signalling of the form "we are so intelligent, we must use our intelligence to save the world from bad people/republicans". Google didn't used to be like this. Remember the glory days of organising the world's information, to make it universa…
Alternate theory: there are intelligent, mature adults who disagree with you