Blogger is a free
service for communication, self-expression and freedom of speech. We
believe that Blogger increases the availability of information,
encourages healthy debate and makes possible new connections between
people.
We respect our users' ownership of and responsibility for the content they choose to share. It is our belief that censoring this content is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression.
In order to uphold these values, we need to curb abuses that threaten our ability to provide this service and the freedom of expression it encourages. As a result, there are some boundaries on the type of content that can be hosted with Blogger. The boundaries we have defined are those that both comply with legal requirements and that serve to enhance the service as a whole.
We respect our users' ownership of and responsibility for the content they choose to share. It is our belief that censoring this content is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression.
In order to uphold these values, we need to curb abuses that threaten our ability to provide this service and the freedom of expression it encourages. As a result, there are some boundaries on the type of content that can be hosted with Blogger. The boundaries we have defined are those that both comply with legal requirements and that serve to enhance the service as a whole.
Content Boundaries
Our content policies play an important
role in maintaining a positive experience for you, the users. Please
respect these guidelines. From time to time, we may change our content
policies so please check here. Also, please note that when applying the
policies below, we may make exceptions based on artistic, educational,
documentary or scientific considerations or where there are other
substantial benefits to the public from not taking action on the
content.
Adult Content:
We do allow adult content on Blogger, including images or videos that
contain nudity or sexual activity. But, please mark your blog as 'adult'
in your Blogger settings. Otherwise, we may put it behind a 'mature
content' interstitial.
There are some exceptions to our adult content policy:
Crude Content: Don't post content just to be shocking or graphic. For example, collections of close-up images of gunshot wounds or accident scenes without additional context or commentary would violate this policy.
Violence: Don't threaten other people on your blog. For example, don't post death threats against another person or group of people and don't post content encouraging your readers to take violent action against another person or group of people.
Copyright: It is our policy to respond to clear notices of alleged copyright infringement. More information about our copyright procedures can be found here. Also, please don't provide links to sites where your readers can obtain unauthorised downloads of other people's content.
Personal and confidential information: It's not ok to publish another person's personal and confidential information. For example, don't post someone else's credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, unlisted phone numbers and driver's licence numbers. Also, please bear in mind that in most cases, information that is already available elsewhere on the Internet or in public records is not considered to be private or confidential under our policies.
Impersonating others: Please don't mislead or confuse readers by pretending to be someone else or pretending to represent an organisation when you don't. We're not saying that you can't publish parody or satire - just avoid content that is likely to mislead readers about your true identity.
Illegal activities: Don't use Blogger to engage in illegal activities or to promote dangerous and illegal activities. For example, don't author a blog encouraging people to drink and drive. Otherwise, we may delete your content. Also, in serious cases such as those involving the abuse of children, we may report you to the appropriate authorities.
Spam: Spam takes several forms in Blogger, all of which can result in deletion of your account or blog. Some examples include creating blogs designed to drive traffic to your site or to move it up in search listings, posting comments on other people's blogs just to promote your site or product and scraping existing content from other sources for the primary purpose of generating revenue or other personal gains.
Malware and viruses: Do not create blogs that transmit viruses, cause pop-ups, attempt to install software without the reader's consent or otherwise impact readers with malicious code. This is strictly forbidden on Blogger.
There are some exceptions to our adult content policy:
- Do not use Blogger as a way to make money on adult content. For example, don't create blogs where a significant percentage of the content is ads or links to commercial porn sites.
- No incest or bestiality content: We do not allow image, video or text content that depicts or encourages incest or bestiality.
- Child pornography: We will terminate the accounts of any user we find publishing or distributing child pornography. We will also report that user to the authorities.
- Paedophilia: We do not allow content that encourages or promotes sexual attraction towards children. For example, do not create blogs with galleries of images of children where the collection of images or text accompanying the images is sexually suggestive.
Crude Content: Don't post content just to be shocking or graphic. For example, collections of close-up images of gunshot wounds or accident scenes without additional context or commentary would violate this policy.
Violence: Don't threaten other people on your blog. For example, don't post death threats against another person or group of people and don't post content encouraging your readers to take violent action against another person or group of people.
Copyright: It is our policy to respond to clear notices of alleged copyright infringement. More information about our copyright procedures can be found here. Also, please don't provide links to sites where your readers can obtain unauthorised downloads of other people's content.
Personal and confidential information: It's not ok to publish another person's personal and confidential information. For example, don't post someone else's credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, unlisted phone numbers and driver's licence numbers. Also, please bear in mind that in most cases, information that is already available elsewhere on the Internet or in public records is not considered to be private or confidential under our policies.
Impersonating others: Please don't mislead or confuse readers by pretending to be someone else or pretending to represent an organisation when you don't. We're not saying that you can't publish parody or satire - just avoid content that is likely to mislead readers about your true identity.
Illegal activities: Don't use Blogger to engage in illegal activities or to promote dangerous and illegal activities. For example, don't author a blog encouraging people to drink and drive. Otherwise, we may delete your content. Also, in serious cases such as those involving the abuse of children, we may report you to the appropriate authorities.
Spam: Spam takes several forms in Blogger, all of which can result in deletion of your account or blog. Some examples include creating blogs designed to drive traffic to your site or to move it up in search listings, posting comments on other people's blogs just to promote your site or product and scraping existing content from other sources for the primary purpose of generating revenue or other personal gains.
Malware and viruses: Do not create blogs that transmit viruses, cause pop-ups, attempt to install software without the reader's consent or otherwise impact readers with malicious code. This is strictly forbidden on Blogger.
Enforcement of Blogger's Content Policy
If you encounter a blog that you believe
violates our content policies, please report it to us using the 'Report
Abuse' link located at the top of each blog under the 'More' drop-down
(Note: If the blog owner has hidden this link, you can still Report Abuse in the Blogger Help Center).
Our team reviews these flags for policy violations. If the blog does not violate our policies, we will not take any action against the blog or blog owner. If we find that a blog does violate our content policies, we take one or more of the following actions based on the severity of the violation:
Our team reviews these flags for policy violations. If the blog does not violate our policies, we will not take any action against the blog or blog owner. If we find that a blog does violate our content policies, we take one or more of the following actions based on the severity of the violation:
- Put the blog behind a 'mature content' interstitial
- Put the blog behind an interstitial where only the blog author can access the content
- Delete the offending content, blog post or blog
- Disable the author's access to his/her Blogger account
- Disable the author's access to his/her Google account
- Report the user to law enforcement
