Suspension

[krisduv]

Some ignorant user reported my account because of one of my decal (turbolader > kkk..)
Now Sony suspended my account for one week!!!
Is there any chance they cancel it ?

 

[Silver_Wolf]

Sadly I would not think so!

I think there is an appeal process but you would have to contact Sony about it.

Personally I've not had any suspension but I did have a decal censored in sport on one of my account and a picture/livery but that hasn't resulted in any suspension or warnings, the only thing I am guessing is they must have reported your actual PSN account rather than game content or is the decal also censored?

Sorry if a bit vague but just trying to understand the build up as it sounds like Sony have taken it a bit heavy if your first report.

 

[krisduv]

Sadly I would not think so!

I think there is an appeal process but you would have to contact Sony about it.

Personally I've not had any suspension but I did have a decal censored in sport on one of my account and a picture/livery but that hasn't resulted in any suspension or warnings, the only thing I am guessing is they must have reported your actual PSN account rather than game content or is the decal also censored?

Sorry if a bit vague but just trying to understand the build up as it sounds like Sony have taken it a bit heavy if your first report.

Yes the decal is censored too.
Racism = direct suspension.
I accept that of course.
But maybe they should check first...
I replied the suspension mail I received but no idea if that would do anything..
Well I guess that's one week without PS4

 

[Silver_Wolf]

Okay! Good to know in that regard Sony's stance.

It would be nice if checked but the way things work in GT Sport is when that report button gets triggered it usually results in your decal disappearing under the dread triangle very quickly and then any resulting actions come through after.

Finger's crossed your reply will do something but guess a week off the game doesn't do any harm but I think you can still play offline games as I believe they only suspend your access to online?

That said most games do want you to sign in online....

 

[krisduv]

"Every suspension on PlayStation Network is the result of a thorough investigation by PlayStation Safety staff. As a result, suspensions are final and cannot be appealed"

Lol what a joke.

I only play GTS and without PSN, I can't save.
I'm pissed off. You make decals to help people and you're suspended.
I think I'm retiring of decalmaking
Anyway, I can access the livery editor but I'm not even sure whatever I do in it will not disappear.
So yes. I'm on "holidays"

 

[Silver_Wolf]

Ouch!

On a serious note it will still save stuff in the livery editor, just won't allow you to share until the end of the suspension.

 

[krisduv]

"Great" news! Thanks

 

[Famine]

"Every suspension on PlayStation Network is the result of a thorough investigation by PlayStation Safety staff. As a result, suspensions are final and cannot be appealed"

Lol what a joke.

So...

Polyphony Digital doesn't do any of the outside-facing stuff, because it's the developer rather than the publisher. Product communications all goes through Sony, which includes things like the social media (Sony employs a specialist social media team from an outside agency). You may notice that the in-game chat has a bizarrely hyperactive language filter which, among other things, censors words like "engine". That's because it's the PSN language filter.

While third-party games operate their own report/sanction systems, when you report something in GT Sport it goes to PSN. Each report is dealt with by an actual person. They look for specific breaches - swearing, threats, penises, and so on - and it's basically cut and dried; if you typed out a thing on their list, you've committed a breach and you get punished. That's why there are no appeals: they don't actually make decisions.

The folks at PSN are not product experts, and they're certainly not clued in to technical terms in niche communities. The human moderator will see someone creating a decal with "KKK" on it, look it up on the list of banned things, see that "KKK" is banned because racist hate group, and click "guilty", because they have no concept that Kuhnle, Kopp & Kausch is a 120-year old engineering brand that became particularly well known in the 1980s for its turbochargers in F1 and on Porsche models.

It's easy to understand - even the heritage race cars which ran with KKK Turbolader decals in-period don't have them any more, and while BorgWarner used the KKK name, Siemens didn't when it acquired the brand. New owner Howden specifically inserts an ampersand into the name and logo:

And that's that. I've asked on Twitter if they can look into it, but I doubt it'll achieve anything.

 

[krisduv]

So...

Polyphony Digital doesn't do any of the outside-facing stuff, because it's the developer rather than the publisher. Product communications all goes through Sony, which includes things like the social media (Sony employs a specialist social media team from an outside agency). You may notice that the in-game chat has a bizarrely hyperactive language filter which, among other things, censors words like "engine". That's because it's the PSN language filter.

While third-party games operate their own report/sanction systems, when you report something in GT Sport it goes to PSN. Each report is dealt with by an actual person. They look for specific breaches - swearing, threats, penises, and so on - and it's basically cut and dried; if you typed out a thing on their list, you've committed a breach and you get punished. That's why there are no appeals: they don't actually make decisions.

The folks at PSN are not product experts, and they're certainly not clued in to technical terms in niche communities. The human moderator will see someone creating a decal with "KKK" on it, look it up on the list of banned things, see that "KKK" is banned because racist hate group, and click "guilty", because they have no concept that Kuhnle, Kopp & Kausch is a 120-year old engineering brand that became particularly well known in the 1980s for its turbochargers in F1 and on Porsche models.

And that's that. I've asked on Twitter if they can look into it, but I doubt it'll achieve anything.

Thank you for the details and I perfectly understand the process.
What I think is stupid is they don't even accept that they might be wrong in some cases and look at it once they got the explanation.
I know nothing about racing except I watched F1 on TV during Schumacher era, so I get it that someone doesn't know turbolader history (I didn't until I had to make the decal and I had to check if it was not weird )
Anyway, I've replied to their suspension mail (which is probably automatic so I guess they won't receive it) and PM @AskPlaystation on Twitter.
But no response of course and I'm not optimistic but thank you for asking too!

 

[SpartanUK]

So...

Polyphony Digital doesn't do any of the outside-facing stuff, because it's the developer rather than the publisher. Product communications all goes through Sony, which includes things like the social media (Sony employs a specialist social media team from an outside agency). You may notice that the in-game chat has a bizarrely hyperactive language filter which, among other things, censors words like "engine". That's because it's the PSN language filter.

While third-party games operate their own report/sanction systems, when you report something in GT Sport it goes to PSN. Each report is dealt with by an actual person. They look for specific breaches - swearing, threats, penises, and so on - and it's basically cut and dried; if you typed out a thing on their list, you've committed a breach and you get punished. That's why there are no appeals: they don't actually make decisions.

The folks at PSN are not product experts, and they're certainly not clued in to technical terms in niche communities. The human moderator will see someone creating a decal with "KKK" on it, look it up on the list of banned things, see that "KKK" is banned because racist hate group, and click "guilty", because they have no concept that Kuhnle, Kopp & Kausch is a 120-year old engineering brand that became particularly well known in the 1980s for its turbochargers in F1 and on Porsche models.

It's easy to understand - even the heritage race cars which ran with KKK Turbolader decals in-period don't have them any more, and while BorgWarner used the KKK name, Siemens didn't when it acquired the brand. New owner Howden specifically inserts an ampersand into the name and logo:

And that's that. I've asked on Twitter if they can look into it, but I doubt it'll achieve anything.

Have a bit of faith... ;-)

 

[krisduv]

Well I guess I owe you a huge thank you @Famine since it seems I'm not suspended anymore and they never answered me personally.
And I say "It seems" cause I didn't get any message. I just tried to connect and it worked.
Let's hope it's not a bug

 

[Famine]

Have a bit of faith... ;-)

I prefer scepticism - that way when I'm right I'm not disappointed and when I'm wrong, I'm happy

Well I guess I owe you a huge thank you @Famine since it seems I'm not suspended anymore and they never answered me personally.
And I say "It seems" cause I didn't get any message. I just tried to connect and it worked.
Let's hope it's not a bug

I suspect it has indeed been rescinded If it was due to something we said, then you're more than welcome - and we should in turn thank the PSN mods for looking into it!

 

[Silver_Wolf]

Congratulations!

I would certainly say big plus to @Famine for his post and explanation of how the process works.

On a completely off topic and random censorship question @Famine why would Chitoge be censored on Sport but for some reason is
not censored on the rest of PSN as it's one of my account ID's and would have though if censored (presume it's the Chi or tog) I shouldn't
have been able to create that ID?

 

[BloodRaven]

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone know how to contact PSN? I tried using the chat feature, but it kept disconnecting me. And now I can't even remember how I got to it so I can't even try it, again. So does anyone have an email for them or some other way to contact them? I'd like to at least try an appeal (even though I know it'll get shot down) just for the gratification to know that I tried everything I could.

 

[BaareCZ]

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone know how to contact PSN? I tried using the chat feature, but it kept disconnecting me. And now I can't even remember how I got to it so I can't even try it, again. So does anyone have an email for them or some other way to contact them? I'd like to at least try an appeal (even though I know it'll get shot down) just for the gratification to know that I tried everything I could.

Don't bother. My account got suspended for 7 days earlier this year in March and I still have absolutely no idea what for. I was absolutely baffled when I received the notification:

PlayStation Safety determined that content uploaded from your account to Gran Turismo Sport on PlayStation Network breached the Code of Conduct set out in our Terms of Service.

What's wrong with it?

Hate speech or other hateful content including racism, sexism, xenophobia, or hate directed at religious beliefs, cultural identity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

I wasn't swearing in the post-race chat, I wasn't mean to anyone, I don't do liveries or anything like that. I literally do not upload any content to GT Sport. I tried to contact support several times by email but to no avail. There was absolutely nothing I could do except wait for 7 days until the suspension ended. It was very infuriating to say the least.

 

[BloodRaven]

Don't bother. My account got suspended for 7 days earlier this year in March and I still have absolutely no idea what for. I was absolutely baffled when I received the notification:

PlayStation Safety determined that content uploaded from your account to Gran Turismo Sport on PlayStation Network breached the Code of Conduct set out in our Terms of Service.

What's wrong with it?

Hate speech or other hateful content including racism, sexism, xenophobia, or hate directed at religious beliefs, cultural identity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

I wasn't swearing in the post-race chat, I wasn't mean to anyone, I don't do liveries or anything like that. I literally do not upload any content to GT Sport. I tried to contact support several times by email but to no avail. There was absolutely nothing I could do except wait for 7 days until the suspension ended. It was very infuriating to say the least.

Yeah, I've tried several times to use the "chat" feature they have. At no time did I ever get connected to an actual person. Every time the bot said it was going to connect me with a live person, I'd get the "You are number 'X' in line...", I'd get disconnected almost immediately. So, I'm just waiting until Saturday (or Sunday, whichever day they decide to end the suspension) so I can race, again. I tried creating another account, which I was able to do on the web site, but it won't let me log into it on my PS4. So I guess maybe they suspended my console, too, and not JUST the account. Which really sucks because I can't even use any of the other apps on there (Disney+, HBOMax, Amazon Prime Video, etc.) Every time I try to use one, it tells me I'm not connected to the network and takes me to the PSN sign-in screen.

I can get into GTS, but only for things like time trials. And since none of it counts towards my daily mileage, or daily gift miles, or anything like that, there's no point.

I'll just wait until my 7 days are up.

 

[BaareCZ]

I tried creating another account, which I was able to do on the web site, but it won't let me log into it on my PS4. So I guess maybe they suspended my console, too, and not JUST the account. Which really sucks because I can't even use any of the other apps on there (Disney+, HBOMax, Amazon Prime Video, etc.) Every time I try to use one, it tells me I'm not connected to the network and takes me to the PSN sign-in screen.

I can get into GTS, but only for things like time trials. And since none of it counts towards my daily mileage, or daily gift miles, or anything like that, there's no point.

I'll just wait until my 7 days are up.

Yeah, it sucks big time. Since you can't do almost anything without being logged into your account, by not allowing you to sign in they basically render your console almost useless. But YOU can at least still play your (installed) games. My case was even worse. I gave my primary PS4 (Slim) to my nephews (so they could play all my games for free and use my PS Plus) and I have a PS4 Pro. And since my games are all digital versions and it wouldn't let me sign into my account, I couldn't even play any of my installed games because they were all locked. And because it wouldn't let me sign into my account, I couldn't switch the PS4 Pro to be my primary console for the week. So they turned my PS4 into a useless black plastic box for a week and wouldn't even bother telling me why (except for an automated generic email). I was completely helpless. And pretty angry of course. I seriously think there must have been a mistake and there was nothing I could do and nobody would even bother talking to me.

 

[Sojiira]

Yeah, it sucks big time. Since you can't do almost anything without being logged into your account, by not allowing you to sign in they basically render your console almost useless. But YOU can at least still play your (installed) games. My case was even worse. I gave my primary PS4 (Slim) to my nephews (so they could play all my games for free and use my PS Plus) and I have a PS4 Pro. And since my games are all digital versions and it wouldn't let me sign into my account, I couldn't even play any of my installed games because they were all locked. And because it wouldn't let me sign into my account, I couldn't switch the PS4 Pro to be my primary console for the week. So they turned my PS4 into a useless black plastic box for a week and wouldn't even bother telling me why (except for an automated generic email). I was completely helpless. And pretty angry of course. I seriously think there must have been a mistake and there was nothing I could do and nobody would even bother talking to me.

Sounds very strange since you havent uploaded any liveries or what not. Maybe one of your nephews play GTS and they did something? Sucks though they should have been clearer of the infraction

 

[BloodRaven]

I don't like the fact that there's no recourse if you're accused of anything. They don't even come to you and say "Someone reported you for this. Do you have anything to say or add or want to explain anything?" They don't even give you the chance to delete anything if it offended anyone. It's just "Sorry, you've been suspended because someone reported you for hate speech."

If the person who'd reported me had sent me a message (if that's even possible) that something I uploaded offended them, then maybe we could have worked something out. You know.....like adults do. But I guess they just didn't want to deal with a hate-spewing racist and just resorted to reporting me to Sony and having my account suspended.

But, it is what it is and I can't change it. So I continue to wait.....


ETA: Also, I can't change the helmet on my driver on my profile picture on the GT Sport website. And it's the helmet that got me in this mess. I just tried to go in and change it (noticed it a little bit ago) and it won't let you do that if you're not online.

 

[BaareCZ]

Sounds very strange since you havent uploaded any liveries or what not. Maybe one of your nephews play GTS and they did something? Sucks though they should have been clearer of the infraction

Yeah, that has crossed my mind but it's extremely unlikely. They can play my games and use my PS plus but not my account. I have locked and password-protected it. Plus they don't even have GTS installed, they're not interested in racing games. It's a mystery which, unfortunately, can never be solved. I will never know what it was for. In the end I should be glad that it was only for a week. They could have suspended me for a month or even banned my console completely. And the only thing I would have been able to do is bend over and take it.