Nov 10, 2020

Google locked my account for sharing a historical archive they labelled as "terrorism content"

Oh man, this is creating me a lot of heartburn.

So, I am the team manager of the Tank Encyclopedia website (http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/). We are a website that covers armored fighting vehicles of all nations and eras.

At some point in the past, we have started a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) conflict archive. Basically, before this, we had worked a lot with the Spanish Civil War (late 1930s), which saw widespread use of improvised armored fighting vehicles, but which are poorly documented.

Seeing the new conflicts occurring in the MENA area, we decided to start a vehicle archive to save for future historians. We basically went through Twitter, Facebook and other places, found images of vehicles being used by any faction in any of the conflicts there (Syria, Lybia, Iraq), saved them and cataloged them.

This did not include graphic imagery, but ISIS flags did crop up from time to time. Also, lots of SVBIED use videos and stuff. We didn't pick any sides, we archived everything from anyone, Syrian government, Iraqi Government, Syrian Rebels, Kurds, ISIS, HTS, everything.

At some point 3 years ago, we stopped this as we didn't have the time anymore and released it to the public:

One of our authors has also recently started working on a mega article on the use of the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 in armed conflicts and used a lot of those images. I can share that if it would help the situation in any way.

Anyway, yesterday, Google decided that I have been "sharing terrorism content" and suspended my personal account that was hosting that archive. This has led to the lockdown and loss of access to most of the Tank Encyclopedia Google Drive folder, which included our whole library, our Youtube narrations, some articles, etc, but also my personal folders (my wedding photos, my document archive) and work folders that are super important for my PhD.

I have tried to appeal, but got an answer saying that they still find my account in breach of Google policy. I could not send them a message to explain the situation or anything. I do not understand that. According to the Google terms of use:
"Don’t use Google services to share content intended to recruit for terrorist organizations, incite violence, glorify terrorist attacks, or otherwise promote acts of terrorism."

Which I have not done. This was an honest-to-God amateur history project, we released it publicly and explained what it is. At no point have we tried to do any stuff related to promoting terrorism.

Please help me, is there any way for me to contact them and explain the situation? Is there any way for me to get the rest of my files back from Google?
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Nov 12, 2020
Dear Tank Encyclopedia supporters!
Thank you very much for the overwhelming show of support! It has really meant the world for us.
However, please stop commenting for now on this thread, until we receive more information from Google! Please do continue to upvote it though.
All the best and we love you all!
Diamond Product Expert jp88 recommended this
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All Replies (85)
Nov 10, 2020
100% true. Ive have been using their website for 2 years and still do not think that they are so called terrorists. This is absurd Google!
Or should I say "Encyclopædia"?
Nov 13, 2020
For some unknown reason, Google is flagging my attempted response as violating the Community Policy. Yay, bots!
Nov 13, 2020
Yes, I am the person who started this conversation and who was banned.
Nov 13, 2020
However, I am not Tank Encyclopedia. Tank Encyclopedia is a team of over 50 volunteers. I am the team manager.
Nov 13, 2020
Sir meera account kigiye hack kiya hai plz security
Thanks Stan for letting me know.  Take care.
BTW if I was you I would be backing up my PhD stuff elsewhere as well, in case this happens again.
Nov 13, 2020
You are right my friend
Nov 13, 2020
Believe me, I am backing everything up right now, just bought an HDD and we'll probably take our tank business of Google Drive. This was pretty traumatic. 

Anyway, again, thanks for your help. I have no idea what actually worked, if it was your forward that saved my butt or if it was any of the other people we contacted through unofficial channels, as Google have sent us no message explaining what happened or even that I was unbanned.

Still, situation solved successfully, all the best!
No worries Stan, take care!
Nov 17, 2020
I doubt it
Dec 13, 2020
is's okay sounds perfect
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