Google bans app for ‘allowing’ download hacking on Smart TVs

Google Play Store suspended Downloader app on Friday (19), owners of Android TV devices are known to download files from sites. According to the digital distribution service, the cancellation followed a complaint by the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) stating that downloading the app from a pirated website was allowed.

website application AFTV news combines a web browser with a file manager, and over 5 million downloads from Google Play, before being suspended. Google’s notification to Elias Saba, the developer of the app, mentions a complaint from several Israeli TV stations accusing Downloader of allowing users to download the Sdarot platform.

Known for persistent copyright infringement in Israel, the site is very popular in this country as it functions as a completely free streaming platform and broadcasts many local and international TV series with Hebrew subtitles. Saba’s claim the site can be downloaded from any internet browser, even Google Chrome.

What does Downloader’s developer say?

In a post on the AFTVnews website, Elias Saba comments: “Any sane person, You can’t blame a web browser for pirated content on the internetbut that’s exactly what happened with my app.” He also reiterates that his app never redirects users to any particular site other than his own.

The developer filed an appeal via Google Play Console and Google’s DMCA counter notification form on the same day as the suspension. First transaction rejected in about an hourhowever, Saba is still awaiting the DMCA form.

The owner of Downloader, who does not know who to contact, asks its users for help to restore the application.

I need your help! My downloader app was accidentally removed from: @Google Play Store due to a ridiculous DMCA takedown from Israel TV @yescoil this claims my app infringes copyright as it can load a specific website with the infringing content of the web browser in the app.

—AFTVnews (@AFTVnews) 19 May 2023