YouTube under fire from more than 80 fact-checking bodies for failing to halt the spread of …

Wednesday 12-01-2022 09:52 YouTube has come under attack from a group of more than 80 fact-checking organisations for failing to halt the spread of misinformation and disinformation worldwide. The groups, including The Washington Post Fact-checker in the US and UK fact-checking charity Full Fact, claim that YouTube has up until now largely escaped criticism “despite fact checkers seeing problematic content daily on the platform.”  In ab open letter to YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki signed by the groups, they note how destructive disinformation and misinformation can be for social harmony, democracy, and public health, but say they do not see much effort by YouTube to implement policies that address the problem. “On the contrary,” the letter says, “YouTube is allowing its platform to be weaponized by unscrupulous actors to manipulate and exploit others, and to organize and fundraise themselves.” The letter cites examples of how YouTube has been used to spread false information, including YouTube video seen by millions that encouraged them to boycott vaccinations or treat their COVID-19 infections with bogus cures; the use of YouTube to amplify hate speech against vulnerable groups in Brazil; false content with over 2m views denying human rights abuses and corruption during the Martial law years being used…
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