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Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

workspaceupdates.googleblog.com

31–40 of 269 posts

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#31
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But seriously how long is it before Google implements a hashing algorithm (not too dissimilar from Apple's) to check if a user has not uploaded content with a copyright on it and taking some form of action on the user. This feels like a slippery slope to be on.

What if you actually own the copyrighted content or have permission to have it?

Of course, that is an edge case which Google would need to figure out and perhaps, one of the many reasons they haven't done it.

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#32

Note that you can still access your files, they are not blocking that or restricting that. Its the sharing that's blocked.

And they’ve been blocking files exceeding a download quota (common for publicly shared pirated video content) for ages. Basically the quota is zero for certain files now.

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#33
post #2

Google says you can request a review if you believe something should not have been flagged as a ToS violation but no mention is given to any rights you have. To me this reads as "You can request whatever you want but it might not mean anything in reality.": https://support.google.com/docs/answer/2463328 Conversely, the information for how to report what you perceive as a ToS violation is far more complete: https://su…

Still waiting for my request about my adsense ban for violating not a single ToS to be processed. 15 years. And I'd like my money back, plus interest as well.

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#34

Note that you can still access your files, they are not blocking that or restricting that. Its the sharing that's blocked.

But seriously how long is it before Google implements a hashing algorithm (not too dissimilar from Apple's) to check if a user has not uploaded content with a copyright on it and taking some form of action on the user. This feels like a slippery slope to be on.

Google already scans for CSAM on stuff uploaded to drive. The idea that they'd start using it for copyrighted material is a spurious claim considering they've made no indication of doing so in the past.

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#35
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But seriously how long is it before Google implements a hashing algorithm (not too dissimilar from Apple's) to check if a user has not uploaded content with a copyright on it and taking some form of action on the user. This feels like a slippery slope to be on.

What if you actually own the copyrighted content or have permission to have it?

Still might not have the license to agree to the necessary terms to upload it to a third party cloud storage

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#36
post #14
post #10

I believe this may be due to the popular spamming method lately which is tagging people into a Google Docs and share it so everyone receives a notification (the spam message). It works better than regular email spam since apparently Gmail doesn't treat Google Docs notification email as spam (at least not as often).

there is also a method for sharing pirated media using google drive. TBH I'm surprised they havent started earlier

>there is also a method for sharing pirated media using google drive

Is anyone surprised by that? Every file sharing tool will invariable be used to share pirated and worse material until the people behind that tool show a willingness to stop that behavior. It is practically a universal law of the internet.

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#37
post #36
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

there is also a method for sharing pirated media using google drive. TBH I'm surprised they havent started earlier

>there is also a method for sharing pirated media using google drive Is anyone surprised by that? Every file sharing tool will invariable be used to share pirated and worse material until the people behind that tool show a willingness to stop that behavior. It is practically a universal law of the internet.

Is it really a service if it doesn’t facilitate infringement?

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#38
post #5

If you use anything on a commercial basis with Google, go to small claims court without hesitation, and pull the answer from them rather than keep paying them to lawyertroll you on your own money. Depending on your jurisdiction, small claim courts can actually shut down the binding arbitration clause. In Canada, Google had a long history of losing by defaults in small claims

> If you use anything on a commercial basis with Google, go to small claims court without hesitation, and pull the answer from them rather than keep paying them to lawyertroll you on your own money. And be blacklisted from using Google products and services.

Yeah... We should probably have an anti-retaliation law for cloud services like we do for landlords and employers.

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#39
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if you actually own the copyrighted content or have permission to have it?

Of course, that is an edge case which Google would need to figure out and perhaps, one of the many reasons they haven't done it.

Sadly I expect that Google will "handle" those edge cases the same way they handle similar issues on Youtube: have a lot of false positives and tell users to pound sand, except for cases where the outrage goes viral.

Re: Google Drive may restrict files identified as violating ToS

#40
post #2

Google says you can request a review if you believe something should not have been flagged as a ToS violation but no mention is given to any rights you have. To me this reads as "You can request whatever you want but it might not mean anything in reality.": https://support.google.com/docs/answer/2463328 Conversely, the information for how to report what you perceive as a ToS violation is far more complete: https://su…

"The AI has determined it has done nothing wrong and as punishment has deleted 50% of your files. Do not make that mistake again."
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