YouTube sued by black creators, alleging racial discrimination

YouTube sued by black creators, alleging racial discrimination

Four female YouTube creators filed a class action lawsuit this week against the Youtube. They allege that the company’s algorithms discriminate against Black creators by removing their content without justification.

Youtube creators, Lisa Cabrera, Catherine Jones, Denotra Nicole Lewis, and Kimberly Carleste Newman have filed lawsuit in federal court in northern California.

They say that YouTube’s software, which can automatically remove videos suspected of violating the company’s policies, discriminates against certain groups, such as LGBT people.

One of the creators, Catherine Jones said the platform removed the channel, alleging nudity. But none of her videos contained nudity,

However, Youtube spokesperson said, “ We’ve gone to extraordinary lengths to build our systems and enforce our policies in a neutral, consistent way,”  He also said that the company’s automated systems do not discriminate based on race.

Facebook, Youtube are removing viral Covid-19 conspiracy video ‘Plandemic’

Facebook, Youtube are removing viral Covid-19 conspiracy video ‘Plandemic’

Major social networks are taking down a new coronavirus conspiracy theory video which has rapidly spread across the internet.

The nearly 26-minute video is part of a series of clips being released ahead of a documentary called Plandemic that the filmmakers say “will expose the scientific and political elite who run the scam that is our global health system.”

It features Judy Mikovits, an activist among people who contend that many common vaccines are dangerous. Mikovits says in the video that wearing masks activates the coronavirus within people, without providing evidence, and criticizes orders to stay away from beaches.

The video was posted multiple times on Facebook and collected millions of interactions.Those linked to the YouTube video of the movie, which was viewed millions of times there.

Twitter and Google-owned YouTube are taking steps to remove the video or reduce its spread, Facebook has taken it down from its site.

Youtube deletes conspiracy theorist David Icke’s channel over false Covid-19 theories

Youtube deletes conspiracy theorist David Icke’s channel over false Covid-19 theories

Youtube has deleted conspiracy theorist David Icke’s account as the 68-year-old has allegedly violated its policies on sharing information about coronavirus.

David Icke made controversial unproven claims about the virus on several internet platforms, including one that it is linked to the 5G mobile network.

A spokesperson for the company said that “YouTube has clear policies prohibiting any content that disputes the existence and transmission of Covid-19 as described by the WHO and the NHS.Due to continued violation of these policies we have terminated David Icke’s YouTube channel”

He had more than 900,000 subscribers and had uploaded videos claiming that 5G technology and vaccines had caused people to fall ill, that anyone with a robust immune system is protected and that the virus is a hoax that doesn’t exist.

Sources claim that Youtube deleted the channel following pressure from the non-profit Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), which reported that Mr Icke’s conspiracy theories had been viewed 30m times.

Film festivals team up to offer free global fest on YouTube

Film festivals team up to offer free global fest on YouTube

New York: Film festivals worldwide are teaming up to launch We Are One: A Global Film Festival, which will play out over 10 days and be available for free on YouTube.

Tribeca Enterprises, the company behind the Tribeca Film Festival, and YouTube announced the online festival Monday. Other festivals will also contribute curated programming, including the Cannes Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, and those in Berlin, Tokyo, and New York.

The festival will benefit the World Health Organization and local relief organizations and encourage viewers to donate to COVID-19 relief efforts.

Tribeca Enterprises declined to say what movies would be included but We Are One isn’t expected to feature prominent feature films that were set to premiere at canceled festivals like May’s Cannes Film Festival or still planned ones like September’s Toronto Film Festival. Organizers said programming will include movies, shorts, documentaries, music, comedy, and conversations.

We hope that everyone gets a taste of what makes each festival so unique and appreciates the art and power of film, said Jane Rosenthal, chief executive of Tribeca Enterprises, in a statement.

Some festivals have experimented with virtual editions. Amazon Prime is currently hosting a modest online version of the Texas-based South by Southwest for both subscribers and non-subscribers. The Tribeca Film Festival hosted a non-public exhibition of some of its films for the film industry and press.

We Are the One will begin on May 29 on YouTube.

Youtube starts showing view counts as ‘Lakhs’ and ‘Crores’ in India

Youtube starts showing view counts as ‘Lakhs’ and ‘Crores’ in India

YouTube has started displaying the View count on its videos using the Indian numbering format that includes units such as ‘lakhs’ and ‘crores’ rather than millions and billions.

It is currently visible only on YouTube’s Android app. Also, there was no update or announcement from YouTube and it is not visible for all Android users.

View count of videos that have crossed 1,00,000 are now displayed in lakh instead of hundred thousands (100K and so on) and videos that have crossed 1,00,00,000 views are displayed in crore instead of 10M and so on

The change in view count will be applicable only to Indian viewers. YouTube has so far determined view counts in thousands, millions and billions for creators and viewers globally.

However, Some users have already started complaining about this new change on social media platforms claiming it to be confusing.

Youtube and Instagram accused of pushing misinformation to its audience on Covid-19

Youtube and Instagram accused of pushing misinformation to its audience on Covid-19

Amid Covid-19 lockdown, Tiktok was the most used app followed by Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

But, now Instagram and youtube have been accused of moral failure by allowing accounts that share coronavirus conspiracy theories with millions of viewers.

The social media apps allowed selling of clothing, nutritional supplements, online courses, by spreading misinformation.

YouTube said it removes content that disputes the existence of COVID-19, suggests symptoms are caused by 5G, or says taking a test for the virus will cause people to contract it.

It is said that a video from an account called ‘London Real’, featuring an interview with the notorious conspiracy theorist David Icke, was removed by YouTube on Tuesday after breaching new rules prohibiting videos that make the claim the coronavirus is linked to 5G.

But, a separate interview with David Icke on the London Real channel called “The Dangers Of A 5g World” was not removed by YouTube, despite having the video hashtags Covid-19 which implies a link between 5G and coronavirus.

On the other hand, Instagram account called Project Knowledge, which links to a page selling conspiracy-themed clothing, has almost half a million followers and has posted about coronavirus being a Chinese plot, describing it as a ‘plandemic’.