In a statement to TechRadar Pro (opens in new tab), Google wasn’t particularly forthcoming with answers: 'Google Drive is constantly working to protect the security and safety of our users and society while always respecting privacy. However, we still need a bit more information on how this new policy will be enforced, and what the appeals process will be.

We can all agree that curbing the spread of illegal material on Google Drive, be it pirated material or something considerably worse like child sexual abuse imagery, is a good idea. Because algorithms invariably get things wrong. The search giant confirmed that there will be “exceptions based on artistic, educational, documentary or scientific considerations,” suggesting that actual people will be making the actual decisions rather than leaving it all to algorithms. The idea is to prevent Google Drive’s services being abused, though it’s not clear how strict Google will be at detecting and restricting infringing files. In the case of any illegal material, Google will presumably file a report with the appropriate authorities and let them investigate the matter.Īccording to Google, this move is designed to try and curb the spread of this sort of content. They include, but are not limited to, dangerous and illegal activities, hate speech, malware, sexually explicit material and misleading content. Google’s abuse program policies page detail a number of sensitive topics that it doesn’t allow.

Google drive storage changes