YouTube has directed millions of users to videos denying climate change, a US NGO accused on Thursday, calling for an end to the "free promotion of disinformation" on the platform. Sixteen percent of the 100 most watched videos related to the term "global warming" contained incorrect information, the ten most watched videos having been viewed on average more than a million times each, said the NGO, based in New York, in a report.
In response, YouTube has assured that it is doing its utmost to minimize "problematic" video content and, conversely, highlighting authoritative sources, as well as posting boxes on research related to climate change and to other subjects. On the other hand, the video sharing platform belonging to Google defended its position: as much as it will continue to remove hateful content, as defined by its policy, violent or fraudulent, as much as there is no question that it censors content who don't break his rules.
The term “climate manipulation” on the rise on YouTube
"Our recommendation systems are not designed to filter or demote videos or channels based on specific views," argued YouTube. She recalled having "invested significantly in reducing recommendations for problematic content and misinformation, and in increasing recognized sources".
For its part, Avaaz explained that it had stripped down the results of research carried out on YouTube using the terms "global warming", "climate change" and "climate manipulation" to see what additional content the platform offered ("Up Next" button and suggestion bar). The proportion of potentially misleading videos climbed to 21% for the term "climate manipulation" but fell to 8% with the title "climate change", said the NGO, which aggregates petitions on its platform and claims to " allow citizens to influence global political decisions ”. "This is not about freedom of expression but free advertising," said Julie Deruy, campaign manager for Avaaz, in a statement. "YouTube has factually inaccurate videos that may confuse people about one of the greatest crises of our time."
Avaaz asked YouTube to remove any disinformation video
Avaaz has asked YouTube to remove any disinformation video on climate change from its recommendations and to ensure that this content does not earn money from advertisements. The association also wants YouTube to collaborate with fact-checkers and post correction notices on videos containing false information about climate change. According to Avaaz, YouTube automatically placed ads on some of the contested videos, allowing the service and the content creators to earn money. This could apply to news videos expressing divergent aspects of the climate change debate.
YouTube already provides advertisers with systems to prevent their ads from being displayed with certain types of content, such as climate change talk. Samsung, L'Oréal, Danone and environmental groups Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have called on YouTube to curb climate disinformation, Avaaz said. "At the end of the day, YouTube should not offer, suggest, promote, advertise or lead users to misinformation," said Julie Deruy.
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