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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

#191

Post by gitgud »

gundmc wrote: post #79
lord_erasmus wrote: post #61

In 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.

What makes you think this is something other than another (awful) high profile case of automation gone wrong?

Surely Google's automated tools wouldn't automatically suspend an app that has 5 stars and over 500,000 reviews

.... surely

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

#192

Post by dingo_bat »

Crosseye_Jack wrote: post #24
ipsum2 wrote: post #3

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…

> asking a web browser app to remove references to all the websites and social media posts Except usually a web browser doesn't include a index of sites, You go to a another site (Google/Bing) for that. If a browser does include "recommended sites" the landing pages of those sites best keep to Google's and Apples rules. For an extreme example, If Firefox was promoting PornHub on the new tab page we could understand w…

What about google podcasts which literally lists and plays the same podcasts about covid?

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

#193

Post by techntoke »

nisa wrote: post #82
Crosseye_Jack wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> asking a web browser app to remove references to all the websites and social media posts Except usually a web browser doesn't include a index of sites, You go to a another site (Google/Bing) for that. If a browser does include "recommended sites" the landing pages of those sites best keep to Google's and Apples rules. For an extreme example, If Firefox was promoting PornHub on the new tab page we could understand w…

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.

Can only listen/watch state-approved propaganda.

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

#194

Post by encom »

mschuster91 wrote: post #137
encom wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"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 fre…

If some speech is against the law, you do not have free speech at all.

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

#195

Post by techntoke »

smt88 wrote: post #48
bbarn wrote: 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.

Terrorism became a US obsession because a little over 3,000 died on our soil. Covid-19 will kill 100,000 or more. The fear is justified and the extreme prejudice against Covid-19 misinformation (most of which has an agenda behind it) is warranted. This particular case may go too far, but that has no bearing on whether the other efforts against misinformation are too extreme.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/fbi-erroneously-reveals-id...

Please tell me again how it was justified to attack Iraq, while we continue to bend over for Saudi Arabia?

The fear is not justified, never has been, and it is not the time to sign away your freedoms and believe whatever government agencies and corporations tell you.

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

#196

Post by specialist »

lord_erasmus wrote: post #61

In 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.

Automated jurisprudence and adjudication seems to be suboptimal.

Isn't the elimination of human judgement one reason we all hate bureaucracies?

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

#197

Post by skinnyasianboi »

kreetx wrote: post #182
fsflover wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here you go: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/ and https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/

I had seen them and perhaps it's time to give them a go. Are you (or anyone else) using it, and how is it?

I'm using a Pinephone for a few months now. Not as my main Phone. The hardware is not great(150$) but the software is getting better each week. It's so much fun to play around with. And I'm going to buy the next hardware generation without thinking twice.

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

#198

Post by travisoneill1 »

yuvalr1 wrote: post #80

This is once again an example for how freedom of speech is becoming more and more controlled by tech companies. I'm a little worried about this phenomenon. Google is not constructed by journalists. Freedom of speech might not be first priority for Google.

You think journalists would be any better?

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

#199

Post by nisa »

techntoke wrote: post #193
nisa wrote: post #82

Earlier 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.

Can only listen/watch state-approved propaganda.

There is a difference between genuine alternative views and just cultish conspiracy content created for clicks that defies any law of physics - is it reasonable to recommend a video from someone who argues the lockdown is not warranted? Why not. Is it reasonable to recommend someone who denies the existence of the virus and want's to sell you his quack treatments? I don't think so.
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