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

(reclaimthenet.org)
1525 points garyclarke27 | 3 comments | 18 May 20 07:37 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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dannyw ◴[18 May 20 07:55 UTC] No.23219573[source]▶
> In order to get the app restored, Google is asking Guillemane to remove references to COVID-19 and keywords related to COVID-19 from the app.

So is this a metadata issue, or a content issue?

replies(2): >>23219591 #>>23219678 #
1. Steko ◴[18 May 20 08:09 UTC] No.23219678[source]▶
Why does a general use podcast app have covid in its search keywords? Scumbag marketing tactic; kudos to google if that’s all this is over.
replies(2): >>23219808 #>>23220052 #
2. matsemann ◴[18 May 20 08:26 UTC] No.23219808[source]▶
Did it? Looking at the Google cache of the Play Store page, the only references I can find to covid, virus or similar terms are reviews saying they downloaded it because of the lockdown and are happy with it.

Edit: Here's how the page looked the day before takedown, no hints here at least of them doing anything like that: http://web.archive.org/web/20200515172150/https://play.googl...

And even if they were, couldn't a general app say something along "listen to your favorite sports podcasts, ted talks or get the latest news about X"?

3. Aissen ◴[18 May 20 08:58 UTC] No.23220052[source]▶
It auto-recommends (very) popular podcasts. Guess what: many of them have Covid-related episodes.