Google has come under fire for selling hardcore porn books with graphic images alongside children’s literature on its Play Books store.
The Daily Telegraph reports that free samples of over 100 books containing graphic images are available on Google Play Books store. The tech giant hasn’t put in place any age restrictions to download these books.
A parent wrote to Stephen Barclay, MP for North East Cambridgeshire, calling on Google to be “more responsible”.
She said in the letter: “I feel they are not bothered about this problem. I don’t think many parents are aware of this situation so [they] are unable to keep their children safe, as Google keeps advertising. I would like … to find a solution through government to put a stop to this situation and make Google more responsible.”
Barclay said: “I am very concerned to discover this loophole in parental controls. My constituents want to do the right thing by taking responsibility for the way children use the internet.
“It is worrying that Google has simply brushed off this gap in their controls.
“It is important corporate slogans such as do no evil are not merely empty soundbites when it comes to profitable lines of business. It is inconsistent to promote those while turning a blind eye to other gaps in their defences.”
Last year WHSmith had to shut down its website after pornographic books were found on the website.
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