Comment by sprite | Hacker News Reader

Comment by sprite | Hacker News Reader

Just a quick search in Google Play Store shows several apps that are similarly named including "Threesome Dating App for Couples & Swingers: 3rder". While I don't agree that they should be policing this content at all I think the inconsistency at which they do it is even worse. They won't hesitate to remove an app or your entire account and once they do it's impossible to talk to anyone. Meanwhile other similar apps or developers of similar apps that got you banned remain in the store.

I've been banned from Google Play Developer portal since 2015 because I had an app that accessed an undocumented API of a 3rd party service: "we have determined that your app interferes with or accesses another service or product in an unauthorized manner." I had two different apps using the same API so I got 2 strikes at once and was immediately banned.

I've tried multiple times to contact Google to get my account restored, several times in the past few years since it's been so long, but they don't even respond and it's impossible to get a hold of a human.

Monopoly power right there (yes I'm assuming someone I don't know on the internet is speaking the truth - the assumption may be wrong). What percentage of the mobile phone market is now closed to you?

If you've got the supporting docs to that story it's a good one for any journalist who has an interest in silicon valley market power. Silicon valley monopoly power into a search engine will link up a bunch of newspaper stories about it. Start with the author of the one you think is the best and send them the docs and it may well be there as supporting evidence the next time they write about the abuse of monopolistic power. In general it's a bad idea to "trust" journalists so exercise usual amounts of caution.

I haven’t looked at the exact percentage but I know it’s huge, especially outside the US. I really think they should have a cap on how long you can be banned for. This was also way before Google reviewed apps so if you missed or interpreted something in their developer terms differently from them you risked this happening. I’m assuming that now that they review a reviewer would notify you and decline the app if it was in violation of any terms and you could make the necessary changes first.

I feel pretty helpless as ultimately Google has the power to decide who gets to play in their sandbox.

It's an example of Google abusing their market power and deserves to be verified, reported and become part of the public record. Also cited in various washington committees of politicians who are tasked with examining and recommending ways of dealing with the issue or not. Obviously it's up to you what steps you wish to take, whether you feel like curbing that and other kinds of market power abuse by google for the good of the country is worthwhile and whether you have the documentation to even make a contribution at all.

Right now it's totally unsubstantiated and i wouldn't even bring it up in a discussion about Google market power abuse.

Up to you. That kind of choice kinda sucks if it is actually yours to make (ie you have the docs) both options have significant downside for you. I'm sorry it happened to you. I'm sorry you're in this position. Good luck with whatever you decide.

They did that at 2015 already? Man... I thought it was a never thing that they got rotten.

For digital service/content providers Play-stores are a must-have.

For this kind of companies these platforms are a government like power, except that you cant really appeal.

We managed to reach a person. He indirectly threatened that we could lose our developer account if we continue to insist.

Also in our case similar apps were allowed to remain in the store.

Swinging is a relatively mainstream lifestyle (what, there was even an Ang “Hulk” Lee movie surrounding it). Polyamory is a more fringe culture. It requires a degree of thoughtfulness that’s way beyond my level of emotional intelligence. Swingers on the other hand can just be a couple with a high level of trust and companionship.

Then, having and raising children “properly” requires an even higher level of pair bonding magic.

You had multiple apps accessing the same unauthorized API? What were you doing?

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