Oh Snap! No Fap! Google Bans Porn From Chromecast
Far be it for us to try and dictate what you can and can't do with your Chromecast dongle in the privacy of your own home -- to each their own, we say -- but then again, we don't make the rules; Google does. We're calling your attention to this because, as far as Google is concerned, you better keep porn and other sexually explicit material far away from its tiny dongle.
Never you mind that Android is based on Linux, a free and open source platform. When it comes to provocative material, Google channeled its inner Steve Jobs and brought down the paternalistic ban hammer on pornography, as outlined in the the Google Play Developer Program Policies. Here, have a look for yourself:
"We don't allow content that contains nudity, graphic sex acts, or sexually explicit material. Google has a zero-tolerance policy against child sexual abuse imagery. If we become aware of content with child sexual abuse imagery, we will report it to the appropriate authorities and delete the Google Accounts of those involved with the distribution," Google states.
The same goes for depictions of gratuitous violence, gambling, and a bunch of other things that would bring shame upon your family name, all of which apparently now apply to Chromecast. A week ago you could have loaded up your Chromecast with whatever you wanted, but bundled with the recent release of the Chromecast SDK is a terms of service document stating that "you must comply with the Content Policies listed in the Google Play Developer Program Policies." Party over.
What this really all boils down to is developers aren't allowed to release porn apps for Chromecast. Probably not a big deal in the grand scheme of things -- we hear there are actual websites that host sexually explicit material, believe it or not -- though it definitely stinks for companies like Playboy that may have been looking to release an app (filled with articles that you're most interested in, of course).
Never you mind that Android is based on Linux, a free and open source platform. When it comes to provocative material, Google channeled its inner Steve Jobs and brought down the paternalistic ban hammer on pornography, as outlined in the the Google Play Developer Program Policies. Here, have a look for yourself:
"We don't allow content that contains nudity, graphic sex acts, or sexually explicit material. Google has a zero-tolerance policy against child sexual abuse imagery. If we become aware of content with child sexual abuse imagery, we will report it to the appropriate authorities and delete the Google Accounts of those involved with the distribution," Google states.
The same goes for depictions of gratuitous violence, gambling, and a bunch of other things that would bring shame upon your family name, all of which apparently now apply to Chromecast. A week ago you could have loaded up your Chromecast with whatever you wanted, but bundled with the recent release of the Chromecast SDK is a terms of service document stating that "you must comply with the Content Policies listed in the Google Play Developer Program Policies." Party over.
What this really all boils down to is developers aren't allowed to release porn apps for Chromecast. Probably not a big deal in the grand scheme of things -- we hear there are actual websites that host sexually explicit material, believe it or not -- though it definitely stinks for companies like Playboy that may have been looking to release an app (filled with articles that you're most interested in, of course).
