# Does Google impose content restrictions on our posts? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 24, 2005, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197 "2005-09-24T10:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/21 "2005-09-25T04:24:45Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I doubt that _permitting_ an opinion to be voiced by some anonymous voice on a message board would actually violate the agreement. If the Reader (or the SDMB staff) launched some sort of campaign to have Congress or the SEC break up Google or if the Reader specifically planted stories on the SDMB that maligned Google, there might be cause for concern. However, the boys that run Google are pretty net savvy and they understand what message boards and newsgroups are like. I have Google ads on my message board. They sent me a list of locked threads they objected to (unanswered questions about hacking tools - it’s an IRC-related board, so that’s to be expected) and I had to delete them. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/22 "2005-09-25T14:22:02Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > I have Google ads on my message board. They sent me a list of locked threads they objected to (unanswered questions about hacking tools - it’s an IRC-related board, so that’s to be expected) and I had to delete them. :eek: They monitored your board somehow, found ‘inappropriate’ content for their purposes and then compiled a list to send you w/ the expectation that content would disappear. _grumble_ Don’t like the sound of that. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/23 "2005-09-25T15:40:18Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > :eek: > > They monitored your board somehow, found ‘inappropriate’ content for their purposes and then compiled a list to send you w/ the expectation that content would disappear. > _grumble_ Don’t like the sound of that. The only way you can have content-sensitive ads is by looking at the content to begin with. Google “crawls” a site and looks at threads. Gee, Google doesn’t approve of the dissemination of hacking tools. That’s a shock. TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/24 "2005-09-25T22:05:41Z")
> [@Ed Zotti](#): > > Don’t worry about it. Were Google nutty enough to try to impose censorship, we’d likely discontinue our participation in the program. Thanks Ed. No worries then. ---
**Author:** ![priapus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@priapus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priapus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/25 "2005-09-25T22:39:29Z")
I wonder how long before this tea ends up in the harbor ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/26 "2005-09-25T22:39:42Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Gee, Google doesn’t approve of the dissemination of hacking tools. That’s a shock. Look, I’d have no problem with their request if my board had actually been, you know, disseminating hacking tools. But it wasn’t. I locked the threads in question after noting that they were off topic and removing links where applicable, and I would’ve preferred to leave it at that, because I’d rather not “disappear” content that my users have posted. I got that habit from watching the SDMB moderators, actually. If a locked thread with one post saying “were kan i get a proggy 2 hack msn” and another saying “This is off-topic. Locked.” counts as “hacking/cracking content” in Google’s eyes, then how many SDMB threads will have to be disappeared because they mention illicit drugs, mature content, or gambling? Just look at all the locked (and some unlocked) threads that come up if you search GQ for “bong”… if Google sends you a notice, will you delete them all? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/27 "2005-09-26T02:38:50Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > Just look at all the locked (and some unlocked) threads that come up if you search GQ for “bong”… if Google sends you a notice, will you delete them all? Fair question. I wouldn’t respond favorably to a request for blanket deletion of posts about drug paraphernalia. If I were asked to delete some thread we’d already removed from view (which is the case with most threads involving porn, illegal acts, etc.), I guess I’d have a hard time getting too honked off about that. If they wanted us to delete closed threads that we felt ought to remain visible for whatever reason, I for one would consider that unreasonable interference in our administration of the site and it’s fair to say a period of discussion would ensue. But never mind the hypotheticals - if Google is into micromanagement to the extent you suggest, no doubt we’ll have a real world case to deal with soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/28 "2005-09-26T17:33:21Z")
Given the nature of some of the posts in the Pit, perhaps it might be wise to exclude that forum from Google? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/29 "2005-09-27T00:11:37Z")
> [@Mr2001](#): > > [Google AdSense Program Policies](https://www.google.com/adsense/policies) > > Site may not include: > > - … mature content Well, that one’s safe, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197/30 "2005-09-28T16:56:27Z")
Suppose somebody starts a thread about everybody’s favorite porn stars. I’ve seen it before; it’ll happen again. NOBODY POSTS ANY LINKS. Those are the rules. What shows up down at the bottom of the page? Links to websites with those porn stars’ photos on them, in flagrante delecto, as it were? If so, does that violate the one-click rule? I may be misinterpreting what those ads are for… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-google-impose-content-restrictions-on-our-posts/323197.md?page=1)