Google Drive users stung by macOS '.DS_Store' copyright infringement issue
Google Drive is causing problems for some macOS users, as the ubiquitous ".DS_Store" files are being misinterpreted by the cloud storage service as documents that infringe copyright.
Users of Google Drive can potentially receive an email warning that a file of theirs "violates Google Drive's Terms of Service," specifically its copyright infringement policy. However, it appears that Google's automated file scanning system has deemed a fairly common file as a false positive.
In posts to Reddit, as reported by Bleeping Computer, the system is being tripped up by ".DS_Store." Specific to macOS, .DS_Store holds custom attributes relating to the folder it is contained within.
Typically hidden from macOS users, the file does occasionally appear in specific cases, such as within a ZIP archive. While Finder does try to hide the file where possible, it can appear on cloud storage services when directories are uploaded, or to sometimes appear when other operating systems like Windows are used to examine a folder, depending on configured hidden file settings.
AppleInsider has been able to replicate the issue on an Intel Mac mini, using Google Drive. While attempts on a MacBook Pro and an Intel-based iMac didn't work, it seems unlikely for it to be a problem affecting specific types of Mac.
It is thought that the problem could be caused through a match in hashes between the .DS_Store files and those of known copyrighted content, which could prompt the violation notice.
This is not the first time that Google Drive has manifested such a problem, as users in January found files that contained a few numbers were flagged for similar copyright violations.
A Google spokesperson said they had addressed the issue in January that "impacted a small number of Drive files," including correcting the incorrect flagging and taking steps to stop it from happening again. "This is still correct for all new files, but we're still updating some edge cases," said the spokesperson.
Read on AppleInsider
Users of Google Drive can potentially receive an email warning that a file of theirs "violates Google Drive's Terms of Service," specifically its copyright infringement policy. However, it appears that Google's automated file scanning system has deemed a fairly common file as a false positive.
In posts to Reddit, as reported by Bleeping Computer, the system is being tripped up by ".DS_Store." Specific to macOS, .DS_Store holds custom attributes relating to the folder it is contained within.
Typically hidden from macOS users, the file does occasionally appear in specific cases, such as within a ZIP archive. While Finder does try to hide the file where possible, it can appear on cloud storage services when directories are uploaded, or to sometimes appear when other operating systems like Windows are used to examine a folder, depending on configured hidden file settings.
AppleInsider has been able to replicate the issue on an Intel Mac mini, using Google Drive. While attempts on a MacBook Pro and an Intel-based iMac didn't work, it seems unlikely for it to be a problem affecting specific types of Mac.
It is thought that the problem could be caused through a match in hashes between the .DS_Store files and those of known copyrighted content, which could prompt the violation notice.
This is not the first time that Google Drive has manifested such a problem, as users in January found files that contained a few numbers were flagged for similar copyright violations.
A Google spokesperson said they had addressed the issue in January that "impacted a small number of Drive files," including correcting the incorrect flagging and taking steps to stop it from happening again. "This is still correct for all new files, but we're still updating some edge cases," said the spokesperson.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
”Mac OS users stung by Google Drive faulty file scanning causing copyright issue.”
the blame is not on Mac OS. It’s on googles crappy software.
it’s like inviting an ID thief to stay at your house because they give you a sandwich for dinner.
The incorrect headline gave me pause because I have been involved with a copyright issue where a copyright troll went after the customers of the company I worked for, creating a big mess. This headline made it look like Google Drive users were at risk of having to deal with copyright issues, which is totally incorrect. The reason the files were flagged is due to faulty software. The faulty logic could just as easily flagged the files as malware or any other nefarious classification because the scanning logic is broken.
And when you tell people this they're always like "Well Apple does it too! They all do it. I'm just an Apple fanboy who thinks Apple walks on water and does no wrong. They're just trying to make you think they care about privacy but they sell customers data like everyone else."
I mean Apple isn't perfect with privacy, but they're doing a hell of a lot more to protect your data than most other tech companies. Why would Apple lie about this? What would Apple gain by doing this? Is the risk of being caught lying worth any kind of reward they may get?
Not to mention that it's no business of Google's if you have copyrighted material in your Google Drive.
Morons all.
For Google to do this is not a glitch. There is no way a DS Store file can be confused with any copyright protections. Some likely either got fired or promoted for pulling this on Mac users.