Google asked to explain hate site adverts

GOOGLE has been asked to explain itself after Government adverts were placed on “inappropriate and hate-filled sites”.

The technology giant has been accused of “profiting from hatred” by MPs over its YouTube advertising system that saw taxpayer-funded adverts appear alongside extremist content on the video site.

The Home Affairs Select Committee has now written to Google.

The Cabinet Office said it has placed a temporary restriction on its YouTube advertising “pending reassurances from Google that Government messages can be delivered in a safe and appropriate way”, while The Guardian, Channel 4 and the BBC have also halted their advertising with the firm.

Google’s advertising network uses an automatic filtering system which places adverts on websites and videos.

In a letter to Google’s communications vice president Peter Barron, committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper said: “Government advertisements and major brands advertising is still being placed on inappropriate and hate-filled sites.

“In addition to explaining to the Government and to your advertisers how this has happened and what you are doing to prevent it ever happening again, please can you provide the committee with a full explanation...”

The internet giant’s UK managing director Ronan Harris had earlier admitted the company “can and must do more” to combat “bad advertising”.

“With millions of sites in our network and 400 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute we recognise that we don’t always get it right.”

However, Ms Cooper said the company’s “lack of effort and social responsibility” was “extremely troubling”.