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

(reclaimthenet.org)
1525 points garyclarke27 | 7 comments | 18 May 20 07:37 UTC | HN request time: 1.084s | source | bottom
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lord_erasmus ◴[18 May 20 08:37 UTC] No.23219890[source]▶
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.
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gundmc ◴[18 May 20 08:51 UTC] No.23220004[source]▶
What makes you think this is something other than another (awful) high profile case of automation gone wrong?
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1. gitgud ◴[18 May 20 11:35 UTC] No.23221080[source]▶
Surely Google's automated tools wouldn't automatically suspend an app that has 5 stars and over 500,000 reviews

.... surely

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2. sp332 ◴[18 May 20 11:56 UTC] No.23221210[source]▶
There have been too many cases of a popular app being bought by scammers and repurposed. They can't exempt an app from being suspended just because it's popular.
replies(1): >>23221365 #
3. Dylan16807 ◴[18 May 20 12:16 UTC] No.23221365[source]▶
Exempting it from automatic suspension is not exempting it from suspension.
replies(1): >>23227872 #
4. Spivak ◴[18 May 20 15:33 UTC] No.23223654[source]▶
That kind "popularity content" policy will never work because because then scammers will just buy apps with good reputation. This describes the entire browser extension marketplace. Any extension with a good reputation and a broad permission set will sell for a good bit of money.
replies(1): >>23240115 #
5. Technetium ◴[18 May 20 20:21 UTC] No.23227872{3}[source]▶
I would rather apps be automatically suspended and the install marked as potentially dangerous than have my device goatse'd to a malicious developer for any amount of time.
replies(1): >>23228759 #
6. Dylan16807 ◴[18 May 20 21:46 UTC] No.23228759{4}[source]▶
That can be accommodated. Automatic suspension that lasts 20-30 minutes while someone on the team looks into the case and makes a human judgement.

But a full suspension, on a popular app, without rapid human review? That shouldn't happen.

Also, this wasn't up to the "install marked as dangerous" level. They just prevented new installs. In a situation like that, there's no need to act instantly.

7. saagarjha ◴[19 May 20 20:58 UTC] No.23240115[source]▶
That sounds like a spot where a human can step in?