Neowin News Feed for: Banned

Twitch and Kick streamer banned thanks to a highly requested Windows 11 exclusive feature

Sayan Sen — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:18:01 +0000

One of the most highly requested Windows 11 exclusive features has helped expose a popular Twitch streamer who accidentally streamed explicit content. Read more...

Following Apple, Google pulls ICE-spotting app Red Dot from Play Store

Hamid Ganji — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 07:28:01 +0000

The ICE-spotting app Red Dot is being removed from the Play Store after Google claimed it could incite violence against ICE agents. Read more...

Marvel Snap also gets banned in the USA due to its link with ByteDance

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 08:06:01 +0000

As the new law banning TikTok was enacted in the US on January 19, the card game Marvel Snap also got caught up in the act. Read more...

Even $1 billion & a manufacturing plant aren't enough to get iPhone 16 unbanned in Indonesia

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:12:01 +0000

The Indonesian government has rejected Apple's offer of a $1 billion investment plus an AirTag manufacturing plant in the country. Read more...

This may be your last TP-Link router as they could be banned in the US soon

Sayan Sen — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:30:01 +0000

According to a new report, the USA may be planning to ban TP-Link, especially its routers, very soon. Read more...

Meta suspends user accounts on Instagram and Threads that track celebrity private jets

Steve Bennett — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:40:01 +0000

Users who run these accounts have found that they have been suspended on Instagram and Threads today. Read more...

President Biden signs TikTok bill into law; clock is ticking on the app's possible US ban

John Callaham — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:16:01 +0000

President Joe Biden has now signed the TikTok bill into law. That means the social network's Chinese owners at ByteDance have 270 days to sell it, or the TikTok app could be banned from US app stores. Read more...

Nepal's government becomes the latest to ban TikTok

Steve Bennett — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 14:00:01 +0000

Governments across the world have imposed bans of varying degrees on TikTok, however, Nepal has gone further to ban the app across the entire country in a decision made in a cabinet meeting today. Read more...

France bans sale of iPhone 12 over high radiation levels, Apple disputes the findings

Anurag Singh — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:00:02 +0000

France's National Frequency Agency (ANFR) has notified Apple that it is banning the sale of iPhone 12 models in the country. Apple expressed its disagreement with ANFR's conclusions. Read more...

Windows 11 debloater app gets banned from Microsoft Store, dev calls it "a tragedy"

Sayan Sen — Fri, 05 May 2023 15:32:01 +0000

The Windows 11 debloater app BloatyNosy had issues with Microsoft Store policies, which had been seemingly resolved once. However, Microsoft has once again banned the app from its Store. Read more...

TikTok now banned on New Zealand government devices

Paul Hill — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 21:14:01 +0000

New Zealand is the latest country to ban its governmental employees from using TikTok. It fears that the app could collect sensitive data which could get into the hands of the Chinese government. Read more...

Valve has banned over 40,000 Dota 2 cheaters by tricking them into checking marked data

John Callaham — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:52:01 +0000

Valve has announced it has permanently banned over 40,000 Dota 2 accounts. It used a software "honeypot" to entice these cheating players into checking data that would be read by their exploits. Read more...

Steam has reportedly been banned in China

Usama Jawad — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 13:40:01 +0000

Reports from Mainland China claim that the Chinese government has blocked the global version of Steam and its associated Community page in the country. That said, the exact issue is currently unknown. Read more...

Bill signed to prevent Florida politicians from being 'deplatformed' on social media

Subir Kathuria — Mon, 24 May 2021 18:28:01 +0000

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prevents social media companies from knowingly 'deplatforming' Florida politiciations. The bill was proposed in February after Trump was banned. Read more...

Singapore suspends use of Zoom by teachers following 'very serious incidents'

Usman Khan Lodhi — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 10:50:01 +0000

Following leud incidents during home-based lessons, Singapore has stopped teachers from using Zoom. The company is currently focusing on fixing privacy and security vulnerabilities. Read more...

DO Global responds to Google's accusations about using fraudulent tactics in apps

Usama Jawad — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 15:14:01 +0000

After Google removed nearly 50 apps developed by Baidu-owned company, DO Global, a couple of days ago, the Chinese firm has published a public apology saying that it agrees with Google's decision. Read more...

Wikipedia bans the UK Daily Mail because of 'sensationalism and flat-out fabrication'

Vlad Dudau — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 10:48:01 +0000

The online encyclopedia's editors decided the UK tabloid and its digital counterpart can no longer be cited as trusthworthy sources because of the publication's predilection for making up stories. Read more...

Here's how to catch them all in Pokémon GO from the comfort of your own couch

Vlad Dudau — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 10:56:01 +0000

Pokémon GO can be a fun game if you really like to walk. But what if you don't? Here's how to spoof your location, catch all the Pokémon, and probably get banned, from the comfort of your own home. Read more...

27 games get pulled from Steam in Germany, likely for being controversial

Usama Jawad — Tue, 31 May 2016 15:06:02 +0000

In an attempt to remove media which might be harmful for children, a government body in Germany has presumably removed 27 games from the Steam store, including the entire Postal series. Read more...

iBooks Store and iTunes Movies reportedly banned in China

Matt Blowes — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 07:10:01 +0000

A week after mysteriously going offline in the country, a new report says Apple's iTunes Movies and iBooks stores were banned by Chinese authorities in a bid to prop-up local competitors. Read more...

Pakistan lifts YouTube ban after three years

Matt Blowes — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 08:00:01 +0000

Authorities have reopened access to YouTube after Google launched a localized, Pakistani edition of the site. However questions remain over whether the government can now ban individual videos. Read more...

Brazilian judge rules for a nationwide ban of Whatsapp

Usama Jawad — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:42:01 +0000

A Brazilian judge has ordered a nationwide temporary ban of WhatsApp following the company's refusal to help in an investigation related to child pornography. Despite the ban, it is working normally. Read more...

Hotline Miami 2 gets banned in Australia, dev asks Australians to 'just pirate it'

Usama Jawad — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 12:32:01 +0000

Hotline Miami 2 has been banned in Australia due to depiction of sexual acts. the developer has asked Australians to pirate the game and enjoy it regardless of what the Australian Board thinks. Read more...

China bans Apple devices from government over 'security concerns'

Andy Weir — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:35:06 +0000

Apple is the latest tech company to be barred from supplying devices to the Chinese government, as it continues to reduce its dependence on hardware and software provided by foreign firms. Read more...

Router company Mediabridge banned from Amazon after harassing customer

Jake Schenberg — Fri, 09 May 2014 07:08:49 +0000

Mediabridge responded to a negative review by sending a threatening email to the reviewer, but it backfired when the reviewer posted it to reddit, prompting Amazon to revoke their selling privileges. Read more...

Germany bans sales of Xbox One exclusive launch game Dead Rising 3

John Callaham — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 14:37:10 +0000

The German government has banned domestic sales of Dead Rising 3, leaving gamers there unable to order the open-world zombie game, which will be an exclusive Xbox One launch title in other markets. Read more...

Apple bans digital comic due to gay sex images [Update]

Andrew Stevenson — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:00:03 +0000

While it's not uncommon for Apple to ban certain content from the App Store, it has banned the latest instalment in the popular SAGA comic series for its inclusion of images depicting gay sex. Read more...

Use of Google Glass already banned by Seattle diner

John Callaham — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:10:34 +0000

The 5 Point Cafe diner and dive bar in Seattle has announced it has banned the use of the Google Glass device in its establishment, saying, " ... a** kickings will be encouraged for violators." Read more...

"Several thousand" Diablo III cheaters banned [Update]

John Callaham — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:06:48 +0000

Blizzard has announced that the company has now banned "several thousand Diablo III players" that Blizzard said violated the terms of its Battle.net service by using bot programs or by cheating. Read more...

Access to all foreign websites banned in Belarus

Andy Weir — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:28:39 +0000

In a triumph of stupidity, short-sightedness and political self-interest, the Government of Belarus has made it a crime for its citizens to access, visit or even attempt to use any foreign websites. Read more...

Twitter's 370 banned passwords

Brad Sams — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:01:25 +0000

Password security is something that nearly all sites (including Neowin) take very seriously. Twitter is no exception to this either and they have 370 passwords that are banned from being used on the popular... Read more...

New iPod nano banned in major gym chain's locker rooms

Sam Symons — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:45:04 +0000

Apple's recently introduced iPod nano packed a couple new features, as is expected, but it also came with a built-in video camera. Whilst this is all well and good, the slim size of the nano... Read more...

Apple bans third-most prolific developer from the App Store

Sam Symons — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:33:00 +0000

When the App Store launched, it was relatively bare, leaving it an untapped resource for new (and seasoned) developers. There have been many success stories, which have led to other developers wanting in; if you... Read more...

Banned in Brazil: Counter-Strike and EverQuest

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:38:27 +0000

Brazilian officials have wielded the ban hammer and banned venerable online games EverQuest and Counter-Strike in the country. It was claimed that both games incited violence and were "harmful to consumers' health", according to a... Read more...

Manhunt 2 banned again in the UK

Steven Parker — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 11:27:15 +0000

Rockstar Games' controversial Manhunt 2 game has been rejected for a second time by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), despite revisions made after a ban in June. Rockstar had launched an appeal to... Read more...

Banned video game is 'fine art'

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:22:45 +0000

The US publishers of a video game banned in the UK and Ireland have described it as a "fine piece of art". Take Two chairman Strauss Zelnick said Manhunt 2 had his full support and... Read more...

Xbox 360 Ad Banned

Joe Cashman — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 09:27:25 +0000

A TV advertisement for the Xbox 360 has been banned in the UK because it promotes and glamorises dangerous driving. The ad featured a rooftop and street car chase ending with the protagonists congratulating each... Read more...

World of Warcraft Guild Banned For "Cheating"

Todd Tanner — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:17:23 +0000

The World of Warcraft guild Overrated has been permanently banned by Blizzard Entertainment after it was caught cheating in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Guild members used an exploit that essentially knocked down walls,... Read more...

Charity calls for Bully game to be banned

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:03:21 +0000

A leading anti-bullying charity is calling for a computer game called Bully to be banned in the UK following the release of a screenshot in which one youth kicks another. The game is due to... Read more...

Misleading Dell TV advert banned

Steven Parker — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 11:45:33 +0000

Dell Computers has been banned from showing a television advert that misleads customers over the price of one of its PC systems. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found that the ad breached Committee of Advertising... Read more...