Google+ ToS Violation Means Lockout from ALL Google Services

from JoeUser Forums

Just noted this on Slashdot.com:

 

I don’t know if you are participating in Google+ or not, but if you use Gmail for your personal/business correspondence,

this could be catastrophic. Since errors can happen, and since an appeal mechanism doesn’t appear to be evident,

I recommend:

1. Read Google+ ‘s ToS and make a copy of it.

2. Make a backup of your important correspondence, receipts, etc.

3. Try to find an appeal link, and if you find it PLEASE post it on this thread. It might save someone a great deal of grief.

This seems to happen because Google+ unifies all the Google services you use.

 

Not having a clearly posted link for an appeal of decision is not good practice, Google.  It seems a bit Orwellian to me.

So, unless you have really great media exposure, or are a celebrity your chances of appeal are almost zero.

 

Source:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/07/24/0441238/Google-Account-Suspensions-Over-ToS-Drawing-Fire

41,068 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

If people are getting locked out a the rate that Google suspends AdSense accounts( as in, 5 seconds after it's made it get suspended for no reason) , it's probably better I'm staying away from it. Unless they start locking people out before hand.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I recommend:
End of quote

Avoid Google.

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jafo, I fully understand your point of view, and I won't argue it, but Google+ does have a large (20,000,000+) and growing (very rapidly) following at this point. It can be an invaluable help for businesses, and for social purposes. This is just to highlight to people potential drawbacks.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 2

I recommend:


Avoid Google.
End of Jafo's quote

k1

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I lost my mail once when I switched ISP. I had Bredbandsbolaget.

Called them and told them I needed my mailaccount. 10min to copy mails and adresses would be enough but nooo....she even explained it such a way like I was a computer newbie!! >:(

 

Hmm I'm completely politically incorrect AND I got Gmail. Time to worry?? :S

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Campaigner, reply 5
I lost my mail once when I switched ISP. I had Bredbandsbolaget.

Called them and told them I needed my mailaccount. 10min to copy mails and adresses would be enough but nooo....she even explained it such a way like I was a computer newbie!!
End of Campaigner's quote

Guess I was really lucky, then. When the same thing happened to me, I talked with a tech who gave me 24 hours to retrieve everything.

I guess it depends who you get.... and if he/she is willing to help or bend rules...

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Yes, if Google wants to get the edge over Facebook they need to fix this lockout issue, pronto.

Best regards,
Steven.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Or do like I do with Facebook/MySpace/other social media, avoid it like the plague. I use gmail because I had switched isp's 3 times and was sick of having to update my email address.

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Well, I don't use Facebook (or Google+) at all.  But there are some who would use Google+ as long as the TOS aren't too draconian.

Best regards,
Steven.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 3
Jafo, I fully understand your point of view, and I won't argue it, but Google+ does have a large (20,000,000+) and growing (very rapidly) following at this point. It can be an invaluable help for businesses, and for social purposes. This is just to highlight to people potential drawbacks.
End of DrJBHL's quote

Doc...the rapid growth matches the methodology of 'gmail's' growth....both were synthetically propagated by the equivalent of viral advertising....this 'invitation' bullshit which gets the first 'user' blindly promoting the service to all his friends/contacts.

It's no different to Pyramid Selling which most parts of the world prohibit.

Reason for it is to con as many people as possible as fast as possible to give the impression the 'service' is indispensable.

It isn't.

It's just another way to datamine the planet for their advertisers.

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

I'll pass on facebook, and gmail.... i'm minimizing my presence on the web... just too much BS. 

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Google can keep Google. I use Scroogle.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 10
Reason for it is to con as many people as possible as fast as possible to give the impression the 'service' is indispensable.

It isn't.
End of Jafo's quote

No argument.

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 3
This is just to highlight to people potential drawbacks.
End of DrJBHL's quote

When considering joining

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

I set up a dummy google account for my Google+.  If it gets locked out, oh well!  No damage.

But another thing.  IE8 hates gmail since I added Google+.  It did not before, but now it will not open.  I have to open it in Firefox 3.x

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I don't use Google stuff for any reason, so I wanna know [being I can't access a TOS] how I get myself exiled off ALL Google sites ans services in one clean sweep.

I mean, if I have a shandy or three too many one night, and sign up to something Google while intoxicated, I'll need to know how to get out of it AND ensure it can't happen again.

:-"

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 19
Google's ToS can be read here: http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS
End of DrJBHL's quote

But that would mean me actually going to a Google page, wouldn't it?   Hmmm, dunno if I can do it, not willingly.... and I've got no shandy making ingredients, either.

Nah, think I'll take my chances, but thanks anyhow. |-)

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Chicken. :P

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting starkers, reply 20

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 19Google's ToS can be read here: http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS

But that would mean me actually going to a Google page, wouldn't it?   Hmmm, dunno if I can do it, not willingly.... and I've got no shandy making ingredients, either.

Nah, think I'll take my chances, but thanks anyhow.
End of starkers's quote

Use DuckDuckGo, ducks. ;)

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top

Business successs always leads to a monopoly of some kind, and a monopoly in turn leads to totalitarian practices. Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, and now Google, same old. That's why capital accumulation is BAD, as ol Karl M. correctly observed.