Artist Dennis Cooper has reported that Google has removed his entire blog without any prior warning. By doing so, his 14 years of hard work, which was in process, is also vanished completely. The blog was Cooper’s sole home of experimental writing, research, photographs, and more which doesn’t exist anymore.
According to Fusion, Cooper’s blog was hosted by Google-owned Blogger. The only explanation Google gave Dennis Cooper was a standard message that he was in ‘violation of the terms of service agreement.’ If you head towards his blog, you will be welcomed with a following message:
“Sorry, the blog at denniscooper-theweaklings.blogspot.com has been removed. This address is not available for new blogs”
Gmail account deactivation and the fear
This is not the only loss artist Dennis Cooper has suffered. His Gmail account is also deactivated which had plenty of contacts. Most of Cooper’s work was on his blog which was the only source of his back-up work. He had no other back-up which is pretty much every artist’s worst nightmare.
Dennis Cooper reported about the removal of his blog and deactivation of his Gmail account on his Facebook page.
Besides artwork, writing and photos, the blog of Dennis Cooper also contained the only copy of his latest GIF novel. While talking to Artforum, he stated that:
“Of all the things about this that concern and worry me, losing that novel is my greatest fear”
Cooper is considering legal action against Google
I am considering suing Google, he told Fusion. Moreover he is also considering suing PEN America – an organization that protects freedom of speech in the US and worldwide. The company, however, is now pressuring Google on behalf of Cooper to explain why it disabled the blog.
“If Google doesn’t respond and rectify the situation, I won’t have any choice but to sue them. I don’t want to do that for obvious reasons, but I will if I have to”
Executive Director of PEN America, Suzanne Nossel stated that:
“Blogs and social media accounts serve as crucial outlets for creative and artistic expression for millions of people around the world, as well as venues for open discussion among interested visitors. Disabling Dennis Cooper’s blog with no explanation and no assurance that his years of work have been preserved undercuts the trust that users place in online platforms that host their work and ideas. PEN has joined Cooper’s calls for a prompt response from Google”
A piece of advice
If you think your work is safe, you need to rethink and make a copy to ensure you do not become the next victim. This is how you can back up your work.
Source: Sciencealert.com / Image: Mathieu Bourgois/Writer PIctures
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