Is Google censored in Scotland?

[Tricky Dickie]

I found myself visiting Glasgow for a few days this week. I was surprised to find that searches for AdultWork profiles that I usually do weren't returning any results. I even tried "glasgow escort agency" as a search and again got nothing. This was both via my phone and the hotel's internet.

Now if I turned on the VPN on my phone and routed the search through my home internet then everything worked as normal.

So, question for the locals. Are google searches for adult topics being filtered there?

[OldAdmin]

Yes network operators can opt to force "safe search" to be turned on, works using DNS.

More info:
External Link/Members Only

[bigmike32]

My phone is the same i cant access aw through my mobile data and im sure a hotel computer is blocking the access.

[just14u]

Try turning Wi-Fi off as sometimes your phone will automatically log into local systems.

[Largs43]

I had that problem with Vodaphone; no access to "adult sites" through 3G or 4G which I hadn't realised until I was almost at a punt, and wanted to check for AW messages.

It was easily fixed, there's a helpline number on the Vodafone website, I called them and asked the girl to remove the "adult content bar"

I imagine your phone provider has something similar in place by default.

[Tricky Dickie]

I should have made myself clearer. I already have safe searching turned off in Google and the adult bar is turned off in Vodafone. I've never had a problem.

In fact I just tested it on my phone now. Sitting in England (Yorkshire) I search for "Glasgow Escort Agencies" and get a whole bunch of results.

When I did the same thing on the same phone on Tuesday night in Glasgow I didn't get anything - which is why I got suspicious.

I'm using Vodafone so it's not as though I was roaming while in Scotland!

[OldAdmin]

I believe even if you safe search turned off, if the network operator forces traffic to Google via the method I showed above (DNS), it will be enabled and you get filtered results.

[auldie63]

If you are using a hotel wifi they can have it set with parental limits to stop kids getting where they shouldn't, usually if you contact reception they will give you a code to get round this, but of course that means they know what a dirty bastard you intend to be.

[Tricky Dickie]

I believe even if you safe search turned off, if the network operator forces traffic to Google via the method I showed above (DNS), it will be enabled and you get filtered results.

Which leads to the question of why Vodafone would do such a thing when they don't do it to me in England and didn't when I visited Germany recently.

I may be back next week and will do a little more experimenting.

[Tricky Dickie]

If you are using a hotel wifi they can have it set with parental limits to stop kids getting where they shouldn't, usually if you contact reception they will give you a code to get round this, but of course that means they know what a dirty bastard you intend to be.

Good point though I was using Vodafone not hotel wifi. Avoiding sneaky blocks is exactly why I have a vpn set up. So this didn't get in my way (a girl's inefficiency did that well enough dammit) but I was surprised it seemed to be happening.

[Keema]

Try hooking on to some of the free WiFi signals around - not all block adult content.

[bigmike32]

Thats why i like to arrange a punt beforehand because i cant get on aw when im on my way to a punt. So getting the escorts number first is essential to me and i always state that in my comms that if you aw mail me i cant read it.

[daviebond]

I should have made myself clearer. I already have safe searching turned off in Google and the adult bar is turned off in Vodafone. I've never had a problem.

In fact I just tested it on my phone now. Sitting in England (Yorkshire) I search for "Glasgow Escort Agencies" and get a whole bunch of results.

When I did the same thing on the same phone on Tuesday night in Glasgow I didn't get anything - which is why I got suspicious.

I'm using Vodafone so it's not as though I was roaming while in Scotland!

Works fine in Edinburgh