YouTube condemned for failing to take down videos praising Hitler
search

The latest Jewish News

Read this week’s digital edition

Click Here

YouTube condemned for failing to take down videos praising Hitler

Internet giant criticised for not removing extremist far-right and Islamist content that had been flagged to administrators

Adolf Hitler performing a Nazi salute 

Photo credit: PA/PA Wire
Adolf Hitler performing a Nazi salute Photo credit: PA/PA Wire

Online video giant YouTube has been condemned for failing to take down extremist content including films praising Adolf Hitler and Taliban propaganda.

An extensive study of Islamist and far-right extremist material shared on the website found more than 120 videos were not removed even after they had been flagged to the site’s administrators.

Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the influential Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said it was “simply unacceptable” that some content remained live weeks after being reported.

The Labour MP commissioned the study by foreign policy and security think tank the Henry Jackson Society, which involved monitoring YouTube over almost three months.

During the study, researchers flagged up 107 Islamic extremist videos and 94 examples of far-right content.

But 61 of the far-right videos and 60 of the Islamic extremist posts remained online for viewers to watch.

A video entitled Adolf Hitler Was Right, featuring praise of the Nazi leader over images of Jewish families being taken to concentration camps, was flagged on August 1 but was still live on September 18.

Promotional material from the Taliban was flagged on August 29 but still available on September 18.

Other videos still available despite being reported included footage of a child singing over images glorifying terrorism, a man filmed slapping a Muslim teenager with bacon while shouting “Isis scum” and a video of burning buses celebrating the deaths of Shia Muslims.

Ms Cooper said: “It is simply unacceptable that YouTube are taking so long to remove material that contains images and content that glorify extremist violence. Whether that’s Islamic extremism or far-right extremism, the reality is that this material is far too easy to access.

“We know social media can play a role in the radicalisation of young people, drawing them in with twisted and warped ideology.

“YouTube have promised to do more, but they just aren’t moving fast enough. Google, which owns YouTube, is one of the richest and most innovative companies on the planet. They have the resources and capability to sort this and they need to do so fast.

“And we need much stronger action from Government. We’ve had ministerial summit after ministerial summit but it just isn’t making enough difference. We now need proper penalties and fines for social media companies who do not act swiftly enough to remove dangerous and illegal content.”

Alan Mendoza
Alan Mendoza

Henry Jackson Society executive director Alan Mendoza said analysis of Islamist terrorist offences found that in 35% of cases, the internet was cited as a major way in which offenders engaged with extremism.

He said: “These ideologies can be freely disseminated and amplified online and there is room for improvement by technology firms to provide spaces to expose and debate their inconsistencies.”

YouTube defended its approach to extremist content, claiming many videos are now removed before any complaint is received as a result of its monitoring systems.

A spokesman said: “Addressing the challenge posed by extremism is a critical challenge for us all and we’re determined to be part of the solution.

“We’ve put our best talent and technology to the task and we’re making progress through new machine-learning technology, partnerships with experts and collaborations with other companies through the Global Internet Forum.

“Through new uses of technology, the majority of videos we removed for violent extremism over the past month were taken down before receiving a single human flag. We’re doing more every day to tackle these complex issues.”

 

Support your Jewish community. Support your Jewish News

Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.

For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.

Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.

You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.

100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...

Engaging

Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.

Celebrating

There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.

Pioneering

In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.

Campaigning

Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.

Easy access

In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.

Voice of our community to wider society

The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.

We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.

read more: