Category: YouTube
US states target Google in monopoly probe
Chief prosecutors in 50 US states have announced an investigation into Google’s “potential monopolistic behaviour”. The announcement follows one from a separate group of states on Friday that disclosed an investigation into Facebook’s market dominance. The two probes widen the scrutiny of big tech companies beyond sweeping federal and congressional investigations and enforcement action by…
YouTube fined in US after violating children’s privacy law
The Federal Trade Commission in the US is fining YouTube $136 million (£111 million) to settle allegations it collected children’s personal data without their parents’ consent. Google will pay an additional $34 million (£27.9 million) to New York state to resolve similar allegations brought by the state’s attorney general. Check out this infographic on major…
YouTube takes down more than 111,000 hate speech videos
YouTube appears to be making progress in the fight against hate speech, reporting a five-fold increase in the number of offending videos and channels removed. The Google-owned platform said it took down more than 111,000 videos it classed as hateful or abusive between April and June, up from just under 20,000 in the previous three…
YouTube disables over 200 ‘disinformation videos’ over Hong Kong demos
YouTube has disabled more than 200 videos this week which it says appeared to be part of a co-ordinated effort to spread misinformation about the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. The video removals come just days after Twitter said it had suspended more than 200,000 accounts it linked to a Chinese government influence campaign against…
YouTube to prevent copyright claims for 5 second audio clips
YouTube has warned that more content could be blocked in the short term as a result of changes in the way it deals with music copyright. Music owners are able to make claims against videos even if it features a very short snippet or unintentional clip of music, such as a radio playing in the…
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody hits 1 Billion YouTube views
Queen’s music video for Bohemian Rhapsody has notched up a YouTube milestone. It has become the first pre-1990s video to reach one billion views on the platform. 1 billion views of Bohemian Rhapsody! That our music is still creating such a large impact to this day is simply incredible, and we thank you. To celebrate,…
YouTube won’t ban drill music videos, says UK boss
YouTube won't remove drill music videos from the platform because they “provide a place for those too often without a voice”, the UK head of the site has said. Ben McOwen Wilson said the Google-owned platform supports openness and a range of opinions being allowed online but that it must work with government and regulators…
YouTube returns to Amazon Fire TV devices following dispute
The YouTube app has returned to Amazon’s Fire TV streaming devices following the end of a dispute between the technology firms. Starting today, it has been confirmed that the YouTube app will be once again available on Amazon’s streaming devices, with Amazon’s own Prime Video app now also being made accessible on YouTube owner Google’s…
YouTube gives more control over content recommendations
YouTube has announced changes to how it recommends content to its users in a bid to give people more control on the video sharing platform. The Google-owned service is also offering viewers greater insight into why some videos are suggested to them, as well as adding an option to remove a channel suggestion, amid concerns…
YouTube to look at harassment policy again after dispute
YouTube has said it will take a harder look at its harassment policy following a dispute between two video makers over slurs that one made about another’s sexual orientation and ethnicity. American writer and video host Carlos Maza accused YouTuber Steven Crowder of homophobic attacks and inciting harassment, after posting videos mocking his accent, hand…
