Extremist videos promoting violence STILL widely available on YouTube despite Google’s promises to clean up dangerous content
An investigation has discovered more than 120 videos made by pro-Islamists and far-right activists are still available for internet users to view
MORE than 120 extremist videos were STILL widely available on YouTube last night despite being flagged as dangerous, a damning probe reveals.
The major study will heap fresh pressure on the foot-dragging Google-owned video platform to do more to tackle hate.
It comes just a day after The Sun revealed Facebook was also badly failing at removing terror content but taking down fundraising efforts for an RAF heroes charity.
As of yesterday there were more than 60 violent pro-Islamist videos promoting ISIS propaganda and celebrating the work of the ‘mujahideen’ jihadi fighters on YouTube.
And they were still there despite being reported to YouTube bosses as dangerous for weeks.
Despite promises from the company that they were cleaning up the filth, other sick vids called for violence against the ‘kuffar’ non-Muslims and called for attacks against the West.
There were also 60 far-right videos that promote the killing of Muslims, videos depicting violent hate crimes and promoting the message of White Genocide.
The investigation was commissioned by Home Affairs Select Committee boss Yvette Cooper MP and carried out by the anti-terror Henry Jackson Society.
MOST READ IN UK NEWS
Monitoring YouTube over almost three months, the think-tank reported 107 Islamic extremist videos and 94 examples of far-right content.
But 61 of the far-right videos and 60 of the Islamic extremist posts remained online for viewers to watch.
Promotional material from the Taliban was flagged on August 29 but still available on September 18.
Other videos were still available despite being reported included footage of a child singing over images glorifying terrorism and a video of burning buses celebrating the deaths of Shia Muslims.
Last night Ms Cooper hit out: “YouTube have promised to do more, but they just aren’t moving fast enough.
She added: “Google, which owns YouTube, is one of the richest and most innovative companies on the planet.
“They have the resources and capability to sort this and they need to do so fast.”
Henry Jackson Society boss Dr Alan Mendoza said analysis of Islamist terrorist offences found that in 35 per cent of cases, the internet was cited as a major way in which offenders engaged with extremism.
He said: “These ideologies can be freely disseminated and amplified online and there is room for improvement by technology firms to provide spaces to expose and debate their inconsistencies.”
Last night YouTube defended its approach to extremist content, claiming many videos are now removed before any complaint is received as a result of its monitoring systems.
A spokesman said: “Addressing the challenge posed by extremism is a critical challenge for us all and we’re determined to be part of the solution.
“Through new uses of technology, the majority of videos we removed for violent extremism over the past month were taken down before receiving a single human flag. We’re doing more every day to tackle these complex issues.”