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Comment by zb3 | Hacker News Reader

What's wrong with sexually explicit content? Is Google controlled by Taliban or something?

Google operates in many countries and is subject to many laws. Even in the US websites need to check whether you're over 18 to view (or read?) pornography, and Google Docs does not appear to have an age check at 18. Do you think this is an important feature that Docs should be working on? I'm not sure I do personally.

You don't have to be 18 to read smutty literature.

your local law probably has a different opinion on that

I am not aware of any laws in the US about selling books that are only text (no pictures) to minors.

The only "banned books" lists apply to school libraries/librarians.

I cannot possibly see what the justification would be for such a law. It's just words. It is no different than saying 'fuck' in front of a minor. It is clearly protected speech.

Where have you been living for the last 30 years? Most major tech companies have similar policies, for better or worse.

They usually have them in order to not spook the advertisers who don't want to see their ad near anything remotely objectionable. Don't see why they care about somebody sharing a document from their Drive.

Not sure where you're getting your information from: Google platformed hardcore porn up until 2015 [0]. Tumblr permitted it through 2018 [1], while Reddit and Twitter allow it today.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9098875 ("Google bans 'explicit' adult content from Blogger blogs", 2015)

- "Until today, Google's Blogger platform previously allowed "images or videos that contain nudity or sexual activity," and stated that "Censoring this content is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression."

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18590944 ("Tumblr will ban all adult content on December 17th", 2018; 464 comments)

Worse; they answer to advertisers.

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