[Ed note: This story was originally posted 2019-08-15 04:41 UTC but was lost when we had the site crash Thursday morning. Prior comments have, unfortunately, been lost. --martyb]
'Google Blocked TorrentFreak From Appearing in Search Feature'
Documents released by whistleblower Zachary Vorhies suggests that Google actively blocked hundreds of sites, including TorrentFreak, from its Google Now service. The blocklist doesn't provide a specific reason for the blockade, but other sites are flagged for having a high user block rate or for peddling hoax stories. Vorhies has shared the documents with the US Department of Justice.
At TorrentFreak, we have written hundreds of articles about website blocking and censorship. Today, we're featured in one ourselves.
Leaked Google documents reveal that TorrentFreak.com shows up in one of Google's previously unknown blocklists, which actively hides our domain from the Google Now service.
Google Now was a Google search feature that presented users with informational cards, to provide users with more details on subjects of interest to them. While the brand no longer exists, the feature is still present in the Google Android app and its feed.
The controversial blocklist is part of a treasure trove of files that were leaked by whistleblower Zachary Vorhies, who shared them with Project Veritas. The entire collection of files uncovers many previously unknown policies and actions from Google.
The story that broke SoylentNews™.
See also (Zachary Vorhies in the news): YouTube Software Engineer Describes Seeing Altercation In Building Courtyard
America's Greatest Makers is like American Idol for geeks, so we talked to one
Previously: Veritas Claims Leaked Internal E-Mails from Google Showing Political Bias of Results
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 16 2019, @04:30AM (3 children)
We literally have Eric Schmidt on tape vowing to do whatever he possibly can to help Queen Hillary win, and the Libtard Lie Brigade STILL wants to pretend that nothing suspicious is going on. Nopity nope! Just every single person who disagrees with Leftist Nazi Scum being kicked off social media! Total coincidence!
(Score: 2) by Coward, Anonymous on Friday August 16 2019, @04:40AM
Blah. If a person whom I don't know tells me "they'll do what they can", I expect nothing.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 16 2019, @04:44AM (1 child)
According to Brad Parscale, Facebook literally embedded a team with the trump campaign. [cbsnews.com]
Nobody did that for Ds. But yeah you keep on screaming.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 16 2019, @06:03PM
They didn't have to.