[WinterMount223]

Did their accounts end up permanently banned or could they recover them? Seems like something that could actually be abused if not. A weaponized banned Google account on a laptop. A laptop with cooties. The seven generations punishment.

[tablespoon]

> Did their accounts end up permanently banned or could they recover them?

How could they recover them? The only support Google offers for situations like this is write a sob story on social media, and hope it gets enough traction that a Google employee intervenes.

[notreallyserio]

I'm no longer doing android development, thankfully (never again!) -- I don't relish the thought of having to ask house guests if they or anyone they know have ever been banned from Google. I don't understand how Google can staff up their Play store with engineers given this keeps happening.

[dylan604]

And we thought checking on COVID status was a problem, imagine if we now have to ask if someone has received a Google VAX

[ocdtrekkie]

Maybe this is the key to actually getting Google to fix this. Weaponize Google bans to the point it's unsustainable for their business.

[spoiler]

They are weaponised already unfortunately. There are HN stories of competitors reporting devs/apps and them getting irrevocably banned without a platform to complain on/to. I used to like/defend Google, but they keep disappointing.

I even have Google-anxiety and am considering moving everything away before it becomes too late

[abriosi]

It is unfortunate that this will eventually happen