Google Duo accidentally sends push notifications promoting Indian Cricket team
What's the story
In a major promotional error, famous video calling app Google Duo has sent users around the world a message from the Indian cricket team. The message was delivered as push notification and led many to believe that the search giant was advertising on behalf of the Indian cricket team. However, Google later confirmed that this was nothing but an error. Here are the details.
Issue
Video message featuring Virat Kohli appeared on Google Duo
Over the last few days, just when Cricket World Cup had started, Duo users from different parts of the world took to Reddit to report a message from the Indian Cricket team that showed up as a push notification or within Duo itself. The message featured Indian skipper Virat Kohli and read "Thank you for the wishes. Keep cheering for Team India on Duo."
Twitter Post
Here is the pop-up notification
Anyone else get this random #duo message from @imVkohli? 🤷♀️#googleduo #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/3COS3VxaeK
— Laura Eileen (@Rawr_b4_coffee) May 30, 2019
Misconception
Many took this as an ad
Considering the nature of the message, people living abroad who had nothing to do with Indian cricket took it as an advert. Google has never advertised on Duo, and it was pretty strange for them to see something like this on the app. Notably, not every user witnessed the message but it did appear for users in the US, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Acknowledgement
Later, Google came up with an explanation
Just as the confusion spread, Google commented on a forum post, explaining that the whole notification debacle occurred due to a notification targeting error. The company said that the notification was not an ad but a message which was aimed at a select group of Indian users. However, due to some error, it was delivered to a wider audience around the world.
Quote
Here's what Google said
"This was not an ad - it was a message that users in India were intended to receive as a thank you if they chose to participate in an upcoming Duo promotion," Google said. "We are sorry for any confusion this may have caused."