Google's Gutsy Reversal: Explicit Content Blogger Ban Rescinded
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001089.html
Just a few days ago, in "With Sudden Blogger Change, Google Drags
Their Trust Problem Back into the Spotlight"
( http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001088.html ), I expressed strong
concerns over Google's decision to both retroactively and proactively
ban most "explicit content" from their Blogger platform, with only a
month's warning and no real explanation offered at the time for such a
dramatic policy change.
The next time someone tries to tell you that Google doesn't listen to
user and other public concerns, you can prove that person wrong by
pointing them at this story, because Google has now announced that
they are completely rescinding that new policy
( https://productforums.google.com/forum/m/#!category-topic/blogger/jAep2mLabQY
).
It takes some serious fortitude to publicly admit when you've made a
policy mistake. What's more, Google has taken the gutsy approach and
has reversed the previous decision entirely. It would have been far
easier -- given the real pressures that exist around explicit
content -- to have left the new policy in place with an explanation and
significantly extended deadlines.
But Google has instead chosen to reaffirm the freedom of expression
foundation of Blogger that has helped make it so popular and useful
for many years.
In so doing, they have made the correct decision for Google, for
users, and for the principles of free speech and free expression that
are currently under so much political and other duress.
Thanks Google.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein ([email protected]): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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