Porn No More? Google to Pose Restrictions on Blogger Sites Next Month!

Mountain View giant Google will impose restrictions on sexually-explicit Blogger sites, recent reports stated.

According to BBC, existing blogs with graphic nudity will be made private on Mar. 23. Sites created after the deadline may be removed based on Google's judgment.

The company announced, "We may remove the blog or take other action if it includes content that is sexually explicit or shows graphic nudity as explained in our content policy."

Contents will not be deleted, but to get in line with the new policy, Google advised two measures: remove sexually-graphic content or mark the blog private all by yourself.

Netizens will no longer access nude Blogger sites publicly, though certain conditions apply. "We'll still allow nudity if the content offers a substantial public benefit, for example in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts," Google informed.

As told by CNN, such idea has put Google in the position of distinguishing art from pornography. The idea may have been difficult for Instagram and other sites, the source noted.

The change is said to be part of the company's attempts in trimming down the amount of porn it hosts.

Previously, Google seemed technically okay with graphic nudity. The Telegraph took note of its earlier stance allowing "images or videos that contain nudity or sexual activity," as they are deemed to be an act of expression.

At the time, Google reportedly said, "Censoring this content is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression."

Considering the turn of events, is Google contradicting freedom of public expression?

ZDNet's Violet Blue is pretty convinced that it all boils down on content the company simply doesn't like. The author expressed, "Adult content has historically been at the forefront of fighting for free speech and political dissent, and this won't be changing anytime soon."

"This isn't about illegal content. Or that Christians don't recommend using Blogger (not because of porn, but because they can't trust Google, either). Nor is it about malware, the actual Blogger user community, or even protecting minors from porn," she went on.

On the other hand, PCMag said the move stems from Google's earlier efforts to "crack down" adult ads on Blogger. Monetization of adult content is now a big NO for the company, and so users could only adapt to these changes.

Alternatively, severely affected bloggers can shut their sites down once and for all. To do this, go to Settings > Other > Blog Tools > Delete This Blog. If you prefer keeping content, export the blog as an .xml file or archive text and images via Google Takeout.

At this point, the number of affected sites has not been disclosed. Blogger users may want to review the content policy here.

What do you think of Google's new policy?