[jedberg]

It may be a bit harsh, but it makes sense. Too many people are trying to take advantage of the situation to pull scams.

It's a lot easier for Google to operate on a whitelist model than a blacklist model.

[cwhiz]

No, it doesn’t. They can do the exact thing Apple is doing which is to accept or reject each app on an individual basis instead of blanket refusing every app that is even related to Covid.

What they’re effectively doing is creating a monopoly in the private sector. No other private company is allowed.

[PaulKeeble]

Then Google would be building a whitelist. They aren't doing that, they are using a position of power to isolate the market for themselves. That is a monopoly.

[jedberg]

They are building a whitelist. They even made the criteria public. You have to be a government or health entity to publish a Covid related app.

[PaulKeeble]

That isn't a whitelist, there is no way on it with a legitimate app when the entry criteria is being a state.

[int_19h]

That is a whitelist. They don't have to be easy to get on, or, indeed, to even allow any new entries.