Midnite

What happened: an in-app ad - a casino ad we didn't choose, didn't approve, and didn't know was running - was served via Google's own ad service, AdMob. AdMob's filters labelled it as a regular, non-sensitive ad rather than a casino ad, so the safety controls we already had in place to block this kind of content never had a chance to apply. It wasn't a one-off. We've documented at least eleven variants of the same casino-ad scheme that slipped through the same way, all dressed up to look like ads for other games. 2/6

If you'd like to support us: – First of all, and most important - please don't harass anyone over this. – Comment, Like and Repost this thread. – Upvote our posts on Reddit: 1. redd.it/1t6p7id 2. redd.it/1t6np69 - Join our new Discord server: discord.gg/6sSERYPGR - Go to datadex.app/ to learn more. Thank you for sticking with us - for some of you, that's been ten years. We don't take it for granted. @GooglePlayBiz @GforPublishers @AndroidDev @googledevs 6/6

The future of dataDex: for a long time we've quietly been building a complete overhaul of the app - a new version drawing on a decade of feedback, with many new features and improvements. The official release was just around the corner when the suspension happened. We're not abandoning it. The new version is coming, in one way or another. Here's a small glimpse: 5/6

If dataDex is already installed on your device, it still works exactly as before. Your data and your dataDex account are safe - nothing got deleted by the suspension. While we're suspended, new users can't download the app, and you can't update from the Play Store. We're working on an alternative way to download and update the app for users who want it. We will update you here and on the website when that happens. 4/6

What we're doing: we've appealed, and we've worked every official channel available to us. Standard Google Play appeal: stuck in a template-reply loop. AdMob support: closed without engaging on the systems failure. We've also escalated publicly, twice - once on the Google Play Developer Community on April 22, and again on the AdMob Help Community on April 29. A Product Expert escalated each one. Neither has had a follow-up since. The full record - every variant we documented, our ad settings, and the back-and-forth with Google support - is available at datadex.app 3/6

An update on dataDex - and a sneak peek of the future. About two weeks ago, Google removed dataDex from the Play Store. The app still works on devices where it's already installed, and your data and accounts are safe. Here's what happened, what we're doing, and what's next for dataDex: 1/6