Earlier this week Google caused some parts of the Internet to explode with rage when Google decided to ban explicit content from their Blogger blogging platform. The plan was that starting on March 23, blogs with sexually explicit content or graphic nudity will be made private. Google also made assurances that no content will be deleted, but only the blog’s owner, administrators on the blog, and those who have had the blog shared with them, will be able to see the explicit content. Here’s what Google said at the time:
In the coming weeks, we’ll no longer allow blogs that contain sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video. We’ll still allow nudity presented in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts, or presented where there are other substantial benefits to the public from not taking action on the content. The new policy will go into effect on the 23rd of March 2015. After this policy goes into effect, Google will restrict access to any blog identified as being in violation of our revised policy. No content will be deleted, but only blog authors and those with whom they have expressly shared the blog will be able to see the content we’ve made private.
That didn’t go over well with many on the Internet who started moving their blogs to other blogging platforms such as Tumblr who has no problem with explicit content.
Late yesterday, Google changed course because it likely clued in that would like lose lots of money:
This week, we announced a change to Blogger’s porn policy. We’ve had a ton of feedback, in particular about the introduction of a retroactive change (some people have had accounts for 10+ years), but also about the negative impact on individuals who post sexually explicit content to express their identities. So rather than implement this change, we’ve decided to step up enforcement around our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn.
Blog owners should continue to mark any blogs containing sexually explicit content as “adult” so that they can be placed behind an “adult content” warning page.
Okay. I admit that I am a bit cynical. But besides the fact that this policy change would have caught a lot of bloggers such as LGBT blogs, romance book writers, sex toy reviewers, and art nude photographers for example, bloggers who aren’t doing anything “explicit”, I’m sure cash had something to do with it.
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This entry was posted on February 28, 2015 at 9:28 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Google Bans Explicit Content On Blogger… Then Backs Down
Earlier this week Google caused some parts of the Internet to explode with rage when Google decided to ban explicit content from their Blogger blogging platform. The plan was that starting on March 23, blogs with sexually explicit content or graphic nudity will be made private. Google also made assurances that no content will be deleted, but only the blog’s owner, administrators on the blog, and those who have had the blog shared with them, will be able to see the explicit content. Here’s what Google said at the time:
In the coming weeks, we’ll no longer allow blogs that contain sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video. We’ll still allow nudity presented in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts, or presented where there are other substantial benefits to the public from not taking action on the content. The new policy will go into effect on the 23rd of March 2015. After this policy goes into effect, Google will restrict access to any blog identified as being in violation of our revised policy. No content will be deleted, but only blog authors and those with whom they have expressly shared the blog will be able to see the content we’ve made private.
That didn’t go over well with many on the Internet who started moving their blogs to other blogging platforms such as Tumblr who has no problem with explicit content.
Late yesterday, Google changed course
because it likely clued in that would like lose lots of money:This week, we announced a change to Blogger’s porn policy. We’ve had a ton of feedback, in particular about the introduction of a retroactive change (some people have had accounts for 10+ years), but also about the negative impact on individuals who post sexually explicit content to express their identities. So rather than implement this change, we’ve decided to step up enforcement around our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn.
Blog owners should continue to mark any blogs containing sexually explicit content as “adult” so that they can be placed behind an “adult content” warning page.
Okay. I admit that I am a bit cynical. But besides the fact that this policy change would have caught a lot of bloggers such as LGBT blogs, romance book writers, sex toy reviewers, and art nude photographers for example, bloggers who aren’t doing anything “explicit”, I’m sure cash had something to do with it.
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This entry was posted on February 28, 2015 at 9:28 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.