---
title: "Google notice of content restriction"
url: https://perrotta.dev/2026/08/google-notice-of-content-restriction/
last_updated: 2026-08-21
---


From: removals@google.com

To: me

Subject: Google notice of content restriction

> Hello,
>
> Your review isn't posted.
>
> What happened
>
> We received a complaint that your review is defamatory under German law. Your
> review is removed for now, because German courts have set a low threshold for
> businesses to challenge reviews as defamatory. For example, businesses can
> simply claim that they cannot verify that you were a customer (for example,
> they have no record of a transaction) and unless there is evidence to the
> contrary, courts may order platforms to remove the review. To show that you
> were a customer and reinstate your review, use the appeals option below under
> "What you can do next".
>
> Affected URL(s): {redacted}
>
> Thiago ★ {1 star}
>
> What you can do next
>
> If you think your content should be re-published, we invite you to contest
> this removal decision by providing us with evidence of your interaction with
> this business at this link:
>
> https://reportcontent.google.com/forms/dsa_appeal

In case you're curious, it was a blank review. I did not write any text at
all.

In other words, a 1-star review without any commentary is apparently deemed
defamatory. What a great system.

This has happened more than once.

I can no longer recommend Google Maps as a reliable source for unbiased reviews.

It is certainly a reliable proxy for _popularity_, but that's all.

Some businesses take advantage of the situation to attempt to take down bad
reviews, and they're often successful while at it. Therefore you cannot trust
the leftover glamourous reviews.

I stopped using Yelp many years ago for the same reason.