Last week, Mastodon developers reported that they received warnings from the Google Play Store that they must change their apps or risk being delisted within seven days. Specifically, the Husky, Fedilab, and Subway Tooter apps received notices, but as of this writing they have yet to be taken down. It appears Google has been unresponsive to media and developer questions.
Google's notice states that the apps violated the Play Store's User Generated Content (UCG) policy that prohibits "apps that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals or groups" based on characteristics that are "associated with systemic discrimination or marginalization." Huh? Those Mastodon apps don't host any content at all—they just allow users to connect with instances of their choosing. How could they be in violation of the UCG policy?
To put it in context, it would be like if major app stores decided to cut off an alternative browser like Brave on the pretext that it allows users to route to websites that the app stores don't like. But it would not be like Brave itself was creating that content or even allowing users to create that content. A browser is a passive conduit, just like Husky and Fedilab. (Actually, it's worse than that, since centralized hosting platforms like Twitter and Facebook have their fair share of UCG policy-violating content, too.)
reason.com
OMG Horrors ..... some user might use an App to connect to something Google / Facebook / Twitter cannot control or filter
Google's notice states that the apps violated the Play Store's User Generated Content (UCG) policy that prohibits "apps that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals or groups" based on characteristics that are "associated with systemic discrimination or marginalization." Huh? Those Mastodon apps don't host any content at all—they just allow users to connect with instances of their choosing. How could they be in violation of the UCG policy?
To put it in context, it would be like if major app stores decided to cut off an alternative browser like Brave on the pretext that it allows users to route to websites that the app stores don't like. But it would not be like Brave itself was creating that content or even allowing users to create that content. A browser is a passive conduit, just like Husky and Fedilab. (Actually, it's worse than that, since centralized hosting platforms like Twitter and Facebook have their fair share of UCG policy-violating content, too.)
Innovators Are Crafting Decentralized Social Media Alternatives. Will App Stores Pull Them Down?
Innovation is the best critique. Anyone can sit around and complain about something they don't like. If you have power…
reason.com
OMG Horrors ..... some user might use an App to connect to something Google / Facebook / Twitter cannot control or filter