Too rude for Google: website told to cover up nude album art

[Danee]

Too rude for Google: website told to cover up nude album art



Sigur Ros' 2008 album, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

A leading music website has censored album covers by artists including Sigur Ros and Lambchop after they fell foul of a Google ban on "sexually explicit content".

Drowned in Sound (DiS) was told that the covers, which include scenes of nudity, could no longer be shown on web pages which sit alongside Google's advertising network.

The award-winning website, which relies upon income from Google's advertising exchange to help cover its server costs, has begun to cover up the offending artworks. DiS, which recorded 28.5 million page views last year, was told that it would be blocked from accessing Google's advertising network within days if it failed to comply.

Sean Adams, who founded DiS in 2000, said: "It seems crazy that they feel they can police our editorial" and questioned whether Google might one day seek the removal of material which could seriously compromise freedom of expression.

The cover of Sigur Ros' 2008 album, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust, which features naked buttocks, incorporates an image by the acclaimed American photographer, Ryan McGinley.



Another offending cover, OH (Ohio) by Lambchop, features a painting called New Orleans Police Beating by Michael Peed. Its image of naked lovers is designed to contrast scenes of intimacy with violence outside.

Google said it could not comment on an individual case. A spokesman said: "Our policies for websites make clear that we will not serve ads to websites with adult or mature content. This policy has been in place for a long time and nothing has changed recently."

The search engine is seeking to distance itself from the porn industry. The warning to DiS comes after Google sent a message to advertisers last month, notifying them that it will no longer accept adverts "that promote graphic depictions of sexual acts".

This included content such as hardcore pornography and the depiction of masturbation and genital, anal and oral sexual acts.
The message read: "We ask that you make any necessary changes to your ads and sites to comply so that your campaigns can continue to run."

The policy change relates to AdWords, Google's advertising platform that places ads on Google sites as well as third-party websites that can use Google to make money.

It is likely to be a coincidence that publishers like Drowned in Sound received a notification asking them to remove explicit material.
Sites like Drowned in Sound, which use Google's DoubleClick or AdSense advertising services, would only need to alter the code on their pages rather than self-censor their content.

But sources indicated that the search engine could examine whether its new policy was being applied too rigorously.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/technology/news/article.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=11290603

[pvct]

This is unrelated but this article reminds me of the time I found this song of Sigur Ros on my 18th birthday (I found the clothed version, then later the naturist). It was the best birthday present I've ever had for myself.

[nudetrail]

to rude boo boo ughh how silly

[nudistboy26]

Great post Danee.

It's been going on a long time, in the late sixties they insisted on selling this John Lennon album, inside a paper bag.

[nudetrail]

Great post Danee.

It's been going on a long time, in the late sixties they insisted on selling this John Lennon album, inside a paper bag.

I love it ,the 70s look most men & women were hairy in those days

[SurfNatural]

Google,

Your serving up some stale bummer biscuits my friend.

[Dario Western]

Great post Danee.

It's been going on a long time, in the late sixties they insisted on selling this John Lennon album, inside a paper bag.

I love it ,the 70s look most men & women were hairy in those days

I've got that album, it actually came out in 1968 just one week after the Beatles White Album.  Paul McCartney hated the cover, whilst Ringo Starr said "It's nothing to get upset about.  It's just John being John."

Strangely enough, there was a nude photo of Paul on the poster of the White Album lyric sheet and a nude one of John sitting on a bed talking on the phone whilst Yoko was asleep next to him. 

[Dan]

Yet Google is serving me nude art cover along with the music on All Access Google Music.

Lots of bands I listen to use it on their covers.

[N.M.S.]

I don't think google could get any more ridiculous. "Mature" content my ass.