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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

#141

Post by 9HZZRfNlpR »

encom wrote: post #93
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.

Just think about how extremely dystopian it is, to punish someone for relaying information that is not approved by the government. The slope is getting slippier every day.

Sweden and herd immunity is official government source? Also this is the only country where scientists are in 100% control, politicians don't make these shots what so ever, this is their policy for this pandemic. So all these anti lockdown folks can always have that as an official government source and possibly also scientific because of the way they set it up there. Of course at least in Europe all the countries are moving the same direction anyway.

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

#142

Post by pxtail »

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.

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.

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

#143

Post by 9HZZRfNlpR »

thu2111 wrote: post #108
Tepix wrote: post #81

Earlier 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…

I remember Sergey Brin (Jewish) defending the fact that the second result for a word jew was some nasty conspiracy site that ranked well. Thought he had big balls to defend it especially considering his background.

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

#144

Post by jimmySixDOF »

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…

You can try Pocket Casts [1] who are my favorite and only

Of course that's assuming that they don't get the same play store treatment from GOOG

It's a little too ironic that Goggle, who has countless times made the argument that they aren't responsible/liable for what their users do on a service ("honestly senator its just a platform we provide"), and then here they are the ones calling for some downstream accountability. Not that I agree at all with the logic- you may as well say that a bank is responsible(liable) for the use of any money they lend out ;} -- but its the hypocrisy that stinks to high heaven here!

[1] https://www.pocketcasts.com/

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

#145

Post by the-real-jap »

indymike wrote: post #119
Tepix wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

So? That pressure is unconstitutional in the US and should be ignored completely and resisted utterly.

How is it unconstitutional? Google/Youtube is not a neutral carrier and can pick what gets broadcasted - just like Fox or CNN.

For the record: as a paying Podcast Addict user, I think this is a shitty action by Google. I just don't see how it is unconstitutional.

NB. I hope something good comes out of this, like more people discovering and using third party app stores, or being able to run apps on android auto even if google hasn't approved such apps (hello TomTom).

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

#146

Post by rendall »

cft wrote: post #10

I think a socially good deed would be to take the original tweet https://twitter.com/PodcastAddict/status/1261671685477941253... and respond to it tweeting @FTC , @kenpaxtontx (who is behind the antimonopoly case). Google will reinstate the app soon, but it should help building the antimonopoly case against this evil machine.

Good idea. Done.

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

#147

Post by imron »

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.

> and the problem is solved a couple of days later.

If the developer is lucky enough to hit the front page of HN.

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

#148

Post by detaro »

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.

If you're logged into YT, you can try deleting the video from your watch history.

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

#149

Post by eternalban »

iagooar wrote: post #20

And 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".

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

#150

Post by cannedslime »

I really hate how Google and Facebook have become "Ministries of truth". Especially since they are some of the most agenda ridden, scummy companies in existence. And you can down vote me straight to hell and back for that statement, it doesn't make it any less true.
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