Google update blocks some users from Google Docs files
Google accidentally blocked some people from accessing their files on the company's Google Docs service Tuesday, a spokesperson said.
"This morning, we made a code push that incorrectly flagged a small percentage of Google Docs as abusive, which caused those documents to be automatically blocked," the Google spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News. "A fix is in place and all users should have full access to their docs."
Throughout the day, journalists, students and other users expressed frustration on Twitter at not being able to access their files. Some said they were told that the documents violated Google's terms of service.
@googledocs Finalising grant application due today with international team and suddenly locked out due to bogus ToS violation. Please fix!
— Joel Krueger (@joelwkrueger) October 31, 2017
.@googledocs locked my editor out of a story we've been writing for two months. No explanation.
— Bram Sable-Smith (@besables) October 31, 2017
@googledocs PLEASE restore our docs! All of our edits and notes are lost. Locked out for “inappropriate” material. WRONG! #restoregoogledocs
— Vagabonda Reads (@VagabondaFFn) October 31, 2017
Assignment, pls message me so I can share the link with you.... (2)
— ItzMeSteve:D (@steviexddd) October 31, 2017
Oh hell no @googledocs. I’ve been working on this collab doc for weeks, and now it gets flagged? Has this happened to anyone else I know? pic.twitter.com/sxbktAi3pE
— Erin Berryman (@eartherin) October 31, 2017
Working away happily on @googledocs with a response to reviewers. Suddenly: "This document is in violation of Terms of Service". #WTF pic.twitter.com/o2pjoTTTWo
— Leighton Pumpkin 🎃 (@widdowquinn) October 31, 2017
@google please stop flagging our renal/ Male GU pathology google doc lab report for abuse, it's super disruptive! thanks!
— a doctor to be. (@tobemd99) October 31, 2017
The Google spokesperson said protecting users from viruses, malware and other abusive content was "central to user safety."
"We apologize for the disruption and will put processes in place to prevent this from happening again," the spokesperson said.