WASHINGTON, DC, June 5, 2019 – YouTube’s plans to take down videos promoting hate speech and extremism – by removing thousands of videos promoting neo-Nazism, white supremacy and bigotry – continues Google’s modus operandi of taking action only when public dissent builds to a boil.
Below, please find a statement from Tom Galvin, executive director of the Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA), about the actions of YouTube and parent company Google.
“Time and time again, it seems that only great public pressure, not the company’s values, forces Google to take action and do the right thing. Too often, Google only pulls down controversial content – that is generating advertising revenue -- when faced with great public or governmental disdain. How many people had to suffer from through painful public persecution before Google and YouTube executives decided homophobic videos fit their definition of unacceptable behavior?
Hopefully, Google will start putting society’s interest above that of its own bottom line. However, if Google’s track record is any indication, we shouldn’t get our hopes too high.”
Click here to see DCA’s Gallery of illegal and illicit activity promoted on YouTube.(Warning: Some of these images depict graphic violence).
Over the past six years, DCA has conducted extensive research on YouTube and other social media platforms to include:
- 2013 Google, YouTube & Evil Doers (Prescription Drugs available without a prescription / counterfeits)
- 2013 Better At Any Cost (Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs (aka Steroids))
- 2014 Digital Weeds
- 2014 Breach of Trust (Stolen Credit Cards)
- 2015 Selling "Slaving" (Remote Access Trojans)
- 2016 Fear, Loathing, and Jihad (Campaign Ads running next to videos promoting terrorism, hate groups, Remote Access Trojans, and stolen credit cards)
- 2018 Digital Platforms in Crisis
- 2018 Fool Me Once... (Terror videos)