Advertisers are suspending ads on YouTube

due to extremism concerns

[nonstop]

Major advertisers on YouTube are suspending their Ads because of extremism concerns.

Advertisers are pulling their Ads because they are appearing next to "inappropriate" material on the video-sharing site.

A recent investigation by the Times found adverts were appearing alongside content from supporters of extremist groups, making them around £6 per 1,000 viewers, as well as making money for the company.

Ministers have summoned Google for talks at the Cabinet Office after imposing a temporary restriction on its own ads - including for military recruitment and blood donation campaigns - appearing on YouTube.

[bbc.co.uk...]

An investigation by The Times found ads for dozens of leading firms have been shown alongside videos posted by extremists including David Duke, former leader of the Klu Klux Klan.

Numerous other racists, holocaust deniers and rape apologists have received payouts from Google for YouTube commercials.

Taxpayer-funded ads for various branches of the British Government were appearing alongside Isis propaganda videos and other offensive content.

[independent.co.uk...]

Current companies that have pulled advertising from YouTube:

The Guardian
Channel 4
BBC
UK Government
HSBC
Lloyds
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
Marks and Spencer
McDonald’s
L’Oreal
Audi
French advertising group (Havas) that has clients including O2, EDF and Royal Mail
Dominos
Transport for London
Financial Conduct Authority

Sky, Barclays and Vodafone are understood to be considering whether to cancel their campaigns unless Google is able to resolve the problem rapidly.

[masterjoe]

These are all great ideas. I also think along with a minimum amount of views, they could translate all the text in videos (which is somewhat accurate) and perhaps use some kind of filter to flag suspicious words and activity. That would reduce their cost tremendously. I'm sure they've already thought of something along those lines, but they just aren't going to do it. Because that means taking responsibility.

[MrSavage]

What about the ads being displayed on copyrighted material video? I guess that isn't as sexy or concerning as extremism. If Google proves that they could deal with extremism videos I suppose the argument could be made about having copyrighted content on YouTube as well.