Google lets antisemitic videos stay on YouTube
Google lets antisemitic videos stay on YouTube
Advertisers revolt after web giant’s failure
Mark Bridge, Technology Correspondent | Alexi Mostrous,
Head of Investigations
March 18 2017, 12:01am,
Google is failing to remove virulent antisemitic content
from its YouTube video platform in an apparent breach of its own guidelines and
the law.
Havas, one of the world’s biggest advertising agencies,
pulled hundreds of UK clients out of Google’s advertising network yesterday
after revelations in The Times that taxpayers and big brands were unwittingly
funding extremists through adverts. Dozens of other brands have also withdrawn
their business.
The full scale of Google’s failure to tackle hate speech
can be revealed today, with fresh analysis showing that more than 200
antisemitic videos are hosted on YouTube.
In some cases, the offensive videos were uploaded years
ago and have attracted hundreds of thousands of views. Some even hosted
advertising, suggesting antisemites may be profiting from well-known brands.
The internet giant is facing growing condemnation from
MPs and campaigners, with calls for websites to face punitive fines for failing
to remove extremist material.
Adverts for dozens of brands appeared during YouTube
videos posted by rape apologists and hate-preachers banned in the UK.
Typically, those who post videos receive up to $7.60 per 1,000 views that an
advert attracts. Some of the most popular extremist clips on YouTube have
nearly one million hits.
Last night the BBC, McDonald’s and Audi joined
advertisers including the Cabinet Office, Transport for London, L’Oréal,
Sainsbury’s and Channel 4 in suspending advertising with YouTube.
Havas, which spends about £35 million with Google each
year in Britain and represents O2, Royal Mail and Domino’s, removed all Google
advertising, saying it had a duty to protect its clients’ reputations.
A snapshot analysis by The Times found more than 200
antisemitic videos on YouTube, but it appeared there are many more.
The videos promote stereotypes, including the idea that
Jews control banks, media and politicians, start wars for profit and keep
“white people” in slavery. Many glorify the Nazis, deny the Holocaust or
perpetuate the blood libel that Jews kill Christian children. Some are fronted
by well-known extremists such as David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader,
while others are narrated by faceless racists.
This newspaper anonymously reported six antisemitic
videos to YouTube, but the site failed to remove them within the 24-hour period
mandated by EU regulations. It took them down only four after it was contacted
subsequently by our reporter.
Google believes in
the right for people to express views that we and many others find abhorrent
One of the removed videos claimed the Jews killed gentile
children every year at Passover and sold their bodies to McDonald’s for burger
meat. It had gained almost a million views since it was posted on the site four
years ago and potentially had made the individual who posted it more than
£5,600 in advertising revenue.
It is understood that Google was continuing last night to
“review” the two remaining videos, which included one featuring antisemitic
claims by Mr Duke and a second titled “Adolf Hitler vs The Jew World Order”.
A spokeswoman said: “Google believes in the right for
people to express views that we and many others find abhorrent, but we do not
tolerate hate speech. We have clear policies against inciting violence or
hatred and we remove content that breaks our rules or is illegal when we’re
made aware of it.”
Google has indicated that it relies on the public to
report offensive YouTube content because it cannot police the site proactively,
given the quantity of footage it hosts. Critics said that its “notification and
takedown” system was unfit for purpose and that the company was shirking its
responsibilities.
Last year, Google and other big technology companies
signed up to a European Commission code of conduct, promising to review most
items flagged as hate speech within 24 hours of notification and to remove
offending content. It claims that it does review 98 per cent of flagged videos
within 24 hours, despite its failure to do so in all six cases raised by this
newspaper.
Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the Commons home affairs
select committee, said: “Google should be able to use one of its much feted
search engines to find this material and take it down.”
Earlier this week Google refused to take down an
antisemitic video reported to YouTube by the committee, saying that it was in
favour of “free speech and access to information”. An executive told MPs that
the video titled “Jews admit organising white genocide” did not breach
guidelines and generally it would only take down videos that promoted or
condoned violence.
YouTube’s hate-speech policy states: “We don’t permit
hate speech . [It is not] acceptable to post malicious, hateful comments about
a group of people solely based on their race.”
Lawyers said that, along with the individuals who post
the content, Google potentially could be liable for prosecution for hate
speech. James Parry, of Parry Welch Lacey solicitors, said: “If the views in
[the videos] were expressed by a person in public, there would be no doubt that
they would be regarded as a hate crime on the grounds that they were remarks
intended to cause or promote religious or racial hatred.”
Google adverts withdrawn
• Havas advertising agency
• The Cabinet Office
• BBC
• McDonald’s
• Audi
• L’Oréal
• Sainsbury’s
• Transport for London
• The Financial Conduct Authority
• Channel 4
• The Guardian
Comments
Post a Comment