“Racist blogs targeting minority groups in Australia are springing up on the web, but Google’s Blogger, the service some are hosted on, refuses to take them offline, says an anti racism lobby group.”
Why doesn’t this surprise me any? Well because, Blogger is hosting a blog that contains defamatory statements about me. I have been trying to get the blog removed for one year now and have not been successful.
Stacy L. Harp has had no success getting pedophilia blogs removed either.
Pedophiles Using Google’s Blogger
Blogger States: “You agree to not use the Service to: (a) upload, post or otherwise transmit any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;”
“TERMINATION You agree that Pyra, in its sole discretion, may terminate your password, BlogSpot Site, use of the Service or use of any other Pyra service, and remove and discard any Content within the Service, for any reason, including, without limitation, for lack of use or if Pyra believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of the TOS.”
That is laughable.
VIOLATIONS: Please report any violations of the TOS via the Blogger Support home page.
I have reported what Violates Blogger’s Tos via the support form not once, but several times.
This was Blogger’s reply:
“Hello, “Thank you for writing regarding content posted on (Blog address removed). We would like to confirm that we have received and reviewed your inquiry dated October 1, 2006.
Blogger.com and Blogspot.com are US sites regulated by US law. Blogger is a provider of content creation tools, not a mediator of that content. We allow our users to create blogs, but we don’t make any claims about the content of these pages. Given these facts, and pursuant with section 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act, Blogger does not remove allegedly defamatory material from Blogger.com or Blogspot.com. If a contact email address is listed on the blog, we recommend working directly with the author to have the content in question removed or changed.
Sincerely, The Blogger Team”
Wed 10/4/2006 2:04 PM
“Hello Rose,
Again, based on our policies regarding content removal, we are unable to remove the content in question. If a contact email address is listed on the blog, we recommend working directly with the author to have the content in question removed or changed.
We apologize that we cannot assist you further at this time.
Sincerely, The Blogger Team”
Let me point out that the blog identified contains libel defamatory statements about me. Such comments may have the effect of damaging my reputation as a freelance writer and my existing and prospective business relationships.
I’m sick of having to deal with the blog harassment, but Blogger offers no support.
Google: Cyber Harassment and Cyber-Stalking on Google’s Blogger
Google Search offered more support than Blogger did. To request that Google remove information from their service because the information violates my rights under the laws of Canada, I must provide a written communication (by fax or regular mail, not by email).
Once my letter is sent a copy will be forwarded to chillingeffects.org for publication.
Yet Blogger does not provide the same support.
I have been persistent. I even sent Blogger a Cease and Desist order and the content remains, and I’m not the only Blogger frustratred with Blogger’s refusal to remove racist, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, hateful websites from blogspot.com. Blogger refuse to remove the content, though it is a violation. Blogger does not enforce their own rules
One Blogger even reported porn found on blogspot.com and received the following reply.
“Hello, thank you for your note. Blogger is a provider of content creation tools, not a mediator of that content. We allow our users to create blogs, but we don’t make any claims about the content of these pages.
In cases where contact information for the author is listed on the page, we recommend you working directly with this person to have this information removed or changed.
Sincerely, The Blogger Team”
So does the fact that Google refuses to remove Racist Blogs surprise me any? Hello no!
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6 responses so far ↓
Wrote: Nov 12, 2006 at 5:02 am
Rose, this is alarming and, frankly, disgraceful. Whilst I agree with freedom of speech, there must be controls in place where things get out of hand as, otherwise, it is a green card for anything and everything. Google should act and act now as they have a part to play in giving these types a sounding board.
You cannot provide a soap box for someone to stand on and then claim that who are totally removed from what they say (its an issue of complicity).
Wrote: Nov 12, 2006 at 9:40 pm
OK, the blog carrying libelous content about you is a wholly different issue than the one that is racist. Libel, though difficult to prove or prosecute, is illegal, and Blogger should do something about it. The racist blogs though, well, freedom of speech. You know a little about me, and know that my philosophy is one of acceptance. I haven’t read the racist blog, but I know that I would disagree with every word on it. And yet, I feel they have the right to sy what they think, feel, and believe. And I, thank God, have the right not to visit/read it.
Wrote: Nov 12, 2006 at 10:38 pm
These are my thoughts on racism.
A New Approach to an Old Problem- Racism
The Patriot Alliance site posts the names, addresses and photographs of people it does not like. Do you still defend their right to free speech? Red Watch NZ is the other blog that violates Blogger’s user agreement. Having been to both blogs, all I can say is that these are hateful blogs owned by neo-Nazis.
Wrote: Nov 13, 2006 at 12:58 pm
G’day, I’m Cam from FightDemBack (the anti-Nazi org mentioned in the article).
Although I agree with Erin M to the extent that people shouldn’t be prosecuted for their beliefs, the websites cited in that article go beyond that. As Rose has noted, they publish names, home addresses and photographs – but they also go a step further. Although most have been removed now due to increased police attention, one of the websites in question also included incitements to violence in the (moderated) comments section. Readers were told that the people featured on the site should be strung up, shot, or have their throats cut.
Classy stuff!! Blogger seems to think it’s above the law (whether that be American or Australian law) and need to be taken down a peg. It is unreasonable to expect them to monitor every blog that they host, but once inappropriate material has been brought to their attention they have a responsiblity to remove it – their inaction makes them complicit in all violence that comes as a result of these hitlists.
Andrew put it eloquently above:
“You cannot provide a soap box for someone to stand on and then claim that you are totally removed from what they say.”
I’m going to steal that one, thanks.
Wrote: Jan 27, 2007 at 11:56 am
I stumbled onto your site because I am having similar issues with Blogger refusing to take down personal information.
I think it’s time people flooded them with complaints. The media likely needs to be brought in as well. Thoughts?
Wrote: Sep 5, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Saw this as a related post in another article of yours. Have things changed any (may be time for an update or more discouragement!
). Because of the content out there I removed the Blogger navigation bar and warn folks that cater to sites about children and family to do the same. The ‘next blogger’ button can take you to any adult and or racist site on Blogger. If any of your friends need instructions, see my post at http://bpwebnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/fearful-of-what-blog-is-behind-door-1.html