Google promoting il...
 

Google promoting illegal stuff?

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Searched for my (legal) ebike on google... top hit is this "Sponsored Result"

Built In UK 35MPH bikes- Crazy | We Have The Bike You Want

UNRESTRICTEDBIKES.COM

https://www.unrestrictedbikes.com

 
Site's top menu says "All our bikes come with twist and go throttles!" "These are the Fastest Ebikes with Throttles available in Market! British Standard"
 
Bonkers! So it's ok for Google to have illegal stuff promoted on their search page? Is this different from swag bags and balaclavas? knives? drugs? etc?! I think the BBC should investigate this behaviour! (Awesome logo though 🤣 )

 
Posted : 17/02/2026 10:50 am
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Also, it'll be a paid for ad, not a natural search result... so Google are making money from it.


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 10:54 am
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They're only illegal if used in public spaces and on roads! 😉


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 10:58 am
 poly
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Ironically you’ve just put a link to them on a highly ranking website therefore feeding their organic search credibility for their technically not illegal product. Legality? Probably similar to a balaclava or an ordinary knife - perfectly legal to sell, buy, own, use in suitable settings.   Nothing like drugs or zombie knives.  If you want them to be like that - don’t complain to Google, go see your MP, and educate them on the difference between good and bad.


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 11:08 am
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I pasted the text straight out of notepad.. the STW forum software converted it to a link, so I'm innocent m'lud.


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 11:23 am
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There's a disclaimer on the site saying that the bikes are only legal for use on private land.


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 1:33 pm
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Posted by: angrycat

There's a disclaimer on the site saying that the bikes are only legal for use on private land.

Indeed I was in Currys a few weeks ago. They have a line of e-scooter things. All being sold happily to everyone. With a wee notice on the end of the display saying 'Only for use on private land'. So that means they have done their warning part...

 


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 2:12 pm
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YouTube, owned by Google, is full of ads for blatant scams (this heater will heat your room in two minutes and cost nothing to run, all that kind of BS) they don't care.

Likewise FB marketplace, I've given up reporting the scams, far too many and nothing happens. 


 
Posted : 17/02/2026 7:01 pm
 Olly
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Theres nothing illegal about them.

youre free to do with them what you will in the comfort of your own sprawling estate.

you can buy knives in Go-outdoors, even Tesco. How/where you use it is the issue.

 


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 1:16 pm
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Posted by: Olly

you can buy knives in Go-outdoors, even Tesco. How/where you use it is the issue.

Leaving aside the various checks required to buy a knife, it isnt unreasonable for Tesco to assume that I probably do have a kitchen to use the knife in. 

Whereas for most of these products the chances of people having those sprawling estates is fairly low. If we take scooters the potential customer base for example seems rather slim. A few companies with sprawling warehouses might find them useful but thats about it. I cant see much take up amongst farmers.

I do wonder if we need a law closer to that used for realistic replica firearms/airsoft eg having to show membership of club or similar to get them.


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 1:28 pm
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Posted by: andrewh

they don't care.

YouTube is not a retailer, it's just an advertising platform - no different to seeing those old school adverts for weird shit (that clearly wouldn't work) that used to appear in the back of sunday newpapers.


 
Posted : 18/02/2026 1:30 pm