Google Backtracks on Adult Content Ban in Blogger

Why Google is backtracking on banning adult content on its Blogger platform.

ByABC News
February 27, 2015, 9:55 AM
Google logo is seen on a wall at the entrance of the Google offices on February 5, 2014.
Google logo is seen on a wall at the entrance of the Google offices on February 5, 2014.
Georges Gobet/AFP/Getty Images

— -- After hearing feedback from Blogger users, Google today is reversing course on a plan to ban X-rated content on the blogging platform, according to a post on the company's product forums.

The search giant earlier this week announced a retroactive policy banning "graphic nude images or video" on the site, effective March 23. The new rule would have required longtime users of the blogging platform to delete old content that did not adhere to the policy or instead make their accounts private.

"We've had a ton of feedback, in particular about the introduction of a retroactive change (some people have had accounts for 10+ years), but also about the negative impact on individuals who post sexually explicit content to express their identities," Jessica Pelegio, social product support manager, wrote on Google's Product forums.

"So rather than implement this change, we've decided to step up enforcement around our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn," she added.

Blogger users who post explicit content will still be required to mark their pages "adult" so they will be placed behind a warning page, however no additional changes will need to be made to their blogs.