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This is terrible and I feel for the developers. I trust that they are honest in their description of their side. I also acknowledge that Google have a long way

This is terrible and I feel for the developers. I trust that they are honest in their description of their side. I also acknowledge that Google have a long way to go in terms of communication. That said, I’ll offer an alternative history... The author hired developers who have previously uploaded malicious code to the Play store, or actively tried to circumvent restrictions on it. That developer uploaded an app, Google banned their account and all accounts that they have been contributors to. This is a reasonable action for Google to take. It’s not like the Play store account had a long history of playing by the rules, with 1 developer being added right at the end and behaving badly. This is an account that is essentially fully tainted. When appealed, the reviewer looked at these facts, and upheld the closure, as I believe would have been the right action. In terms of getting further information, I would guess that Google are vague for 2 reasons: to provide more information may open them up to being sued more easily (rather like how most companies won’t say why someone was fired, or give performance information in referrals), and secondly in Google’s mind this developer is malicious, so they don’t want to provide any information that could be used to further circumvent the ban. Now, this does put the developer who has been essentially scammed but is acting honestly in a tough position. My advice to them would be to push hard on the developer advocate and marketing side of things. Ideally they’d have done this from well before release and had a good working relationship with someone on the inside throughout the process. People say Google are bad at support, but this does happen, Google can be great at developer engagement, as can Apple, etc. I’d frame it in terms of getting a new account set up, guaranteeing that the account will not be delegated to any external entities, and probably pushing hard on the fact that the app is out and doing well on iOS. I’d push for building a relationship and being open with communication, as these are exactly what the hypothetical bad actor that Google believes in would avoid. It might take some time and perseverance, but I reckon that might be enough.

xer0x 8y ago
We have an unrelated app that has been "disappeared" by Google a couple times. I do like that you're trying to be sympathetic to Google. The experience of having your app deleted by Google is a very jarring panic inducing moment. Google's process is not clear. If you miss their warning email this comes as a terrible huge surprise. Google could easily improve this. Even with little things like to replace their 404/403 pages with a note explaining the app has been shutdown, and to contact support.
- danpalmer 8y ago
  That sucks, I can imagine it being very unclear. > I do like that you're trying to be sympathetic to Google. I'm only offering up an alternative hypothesis. I have very mixed feelings about Google products and services like many people, but I have seen them be responsive and useful particularly through developer evangelism channels.
holoduke 8y ago
You clearly have no knowledge or experience in this field at all. Because of you did you would have known that creating a new account after suspension immediately results into another suspension. Google is just a shit company. I don't need 50 sentences for that to explain. "A reasonable action by Google" Come on man. Do you have any idea what's going on here. You whole story sounds like big pile of crap.
- danpalmer 8y ago
  I work at a small-ish company, we're ~70 people, and Google have been nothing but accommodating, offering help and support where we've needed it. Maybe this is because we're bigger than a 2 person company, I don't know. My "story" was intended to be a hypothetical. I don't know if that's what happened, but to me it sounds like a possible option. To be honest, I also think you could be more constructive in your tone and present your arguments in a better way. You have a useful opinion to add, but the way you do so is inflammatory.
Dayshine 8y ago
>I’d frame it in terms of getting a new account set up Er, that's against the TOS. They will immediately ban that account, and any account they ever make. It would be evidence of you trying to avoid the TOS.
- danpalmer 8y ago
  > Er, that's against the TOS. They will immediately ban that account, and any account they ever make. I'd frame it in terms of "how can I get a new account set up". Yes they have automated systems to prevent that, but I believe that a) the company is "innocent", b) Google want more good citizens on their platform, and taking these two together I think they should be able to find a way to make it work.

xer0x 8y ago

We have an unrelated app that has been "disappeared" by Google a couple times. I do like that you're trying to be sympathetic to Google. The experience of having your app deleted by Google is a very jarring panic inducing moment. Google's process is not clear. If you miss their warning email this comes as a terrible huge surprise. Google could easily improve this. Even with little things like to replace their 404/403 pages with a note explaining the app has been shutdown, and to contact support.

danpalmer 8y ago
That sucks, I can imagine it being very unclear. > I do like that you're trying to be sympathetic to Google. I'm only offering up an alternative hypothesis. I have very mixed feelings about Google products and services like many people, but I have seen them be responsive and useful particularly through developer evangelism channels.

holoduke 8y ago

You clearly have no knowledge or experience in this field at all. Because of you did you would have known that creating a new account after suspension immediately results into another suspension. Google is just a shit company. I don't need 50 sentences for that to explain. "A reasonable action by Google" Come on man. Do you have any idea what's going on here. You whole story sounds like big pile of crap.

danpalmer 8y ago
I work at a small-ish company, we're ~70 people, and Google have been nothing but accommodating, offering help and support where we've needed it. Maybe this is because we're bigger than a 2 person company, I don't know. My "story" was intended to be a hypothetical. I don't know if that's what happened, but to me it sounds like a possible option. To be honest, I also think you could be more constructive in your tone and present your arguments in a better way. You have a useful opinion to add, but the way you do so is inflammatory.

Dayshine 8y ago

>I’d frame it in terms of getting a new account set up Er, that's against the TOS. They will immediately ban that account, and any account they ever make. It would be evidence of you trying to avoid the TOS.

danpalmer 8y ago
> Er, that's against the TOS. They will immediately ban that account, and any account they ever make. I'd frame it in terms of "how can I get a new account set up". Yes they have automated systems to prevent that, but I believe that a) the company is "innocent", b) Google want more good citizens on their platform, and taking these two together I think they should be able to find a way to make it work.