New York, NY, April 2, 2019 ... ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) CEO and National Director Jonathan A. Greenblatt issued the following statement today in regards to news reports that YouTube has failed to remove neo-Nazi, white supremacist, and other hateful content from its platform because of its engagement potential:
It is clear from recent news reports that anti-Semitic and white supremacist videos continue to exist on YouTube, despite claims by the company that it is working diligently to remove any violent or hateful footage. It is disheartening that despite those efforts, such violent videos remain accessible through a search option.
In light of the mass shooting in two New Zealand mosques last month by a shooter who was radicalized online, and whose footage of the violence spread virally, it is incredibly important for YouTube to publicly explain why their technology continues to allow channels and videos that promote white supremacy to be shown online. This is an ongoing problem and huge challenge. We call on YouTube and other platforms to actively work and find ways to solve this re-occurring issue.
ADL's Center for Technology and Society, based in Silicon Valley, examines the issue of cyberhate globally — since platforms have no borders — and brings a proactive approach to fighting this scourge: working in partnership with industry, government, academia, and non-profit groups to develop smart strategies and practical solutions to address today’s biggest challenges. The Center partners with the leading entrepreneurs and innovators who are reinventing our world, and conducts cutting-edge research, applying ADL’s expert analysis and reporting to enable online civility and educate our youth to stop online hate.