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Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by kleiba on Monday May 18, 2020 @04:39AM (#23219907)
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.

Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by weiming on Monday May 18, 2020 @04:42AM (#23219936)
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")

Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by Tepix on Monday May 18, 2020 @04:52AM (#23220012)
There is a lot of pressure on the large tech companies to stop spreading misinformation. This is one of their measures.
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by indymike on Monday May 18, 2020 @05:43AM (#23220331)
So? That pressure is unconstitutional in the US and should be ignored completely and resisted utterly.
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by the-real-jap on Monday May 18, 2020 @06:25AM (#23220598)
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... by indymike on Monday May 18, 2020 @08:04AM (#23221270)
The pressure from the government is unconstitutional.
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by moftz on Monday May 18, 2020 @06:39PM (#23229213)
The govt asking Google to help keep the spread of misinformation down is totally different than the govt forcing Google to do so and arresting anyone that posts anything contrary to the official position.
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by indymike on Tuesday May 19, 2020 @05:50AM (#23233100)
Freedom of speech doesn't really care if information is correct or incorrect.
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by amenod on Monday May 18, 2020 @06:07AM (#23220481)
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... by akimball on Monday May 18, 2020 @10:36AM (#23222807)
If only they would suppress disinformation issued by governmental sources, I wouldn't be so troubled by this.
[dead]
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by kleiba on Monday May 18, 2020 @07:58AM (#23221217)
Back when most people who worked there were adults

Are you aware of the fact that Google was literally founded by two college kids?

Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by thu2111 on Tuesday May 19, 2020 @03:33AM (#23232243)
I am! And for better or worse, one of the first things investors insisted on was bringing in Schmidt as "adult supervision".
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by 9HZZRfNlpR on Monday May 18, 2020 @06:18AM (#23220557)
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... by drngdds on Monday May 18, 2020 @07:15AM (#23220958)
Alternate theory: there are intelligent, mature adults who disagree with you
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by ravenstine on Monday May 18, 2020 @10:59AM (#23223162)
What is a government but a "corporation" that owns land and takes a political stance? I find Google to be virtually indistinguishable from government besides that it doesn't have a constitution. Even worse is that they have contracts with the US and various governments, making them a political toady.
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by tumetab1 on Monday May 18, 2020 @06:12AM (#23220511)
> 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... by freshhawk on Monday May 18, 2020 @07:22AM (#23221002)
Try posting something either of those companies care about (I don't mean copyrighted stuff that can be automated) and see how fast it gets taken down.

Given that there is selective attention given to different political subjects it is by definition a political stance.

Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by ryan-allen on Monday May 18, 2020 @05:04AM (#23220090)
Except this time it's a company. I've always wondered why people in the 70s were worried about 'technocracy' and I dismissed it as a bit of a conspiracy thing. I'm not so sure now.
Re:Google bans Podcast Addict app over non-approved Covid-19... by prittgluestick on Monday May 18, 2020 @05:45AM (#23220341)
gated institutional narrative