YouTube pulls kids videos over lewd comments

◗ The move came after a newspaper reported that ads for big- name brands were displayed alongside videos of children or teens which, while innocent on their own, drew viewer comments that seemed pedophile in nature

San Francisco, Dec. 1: YouTube pulled 1,50,000 videos of children after lewd comments about them were posted by viewers, as the Googleowned platform sought to reassure advertisers their messages would be kept out of compromising situations.

The online video- sharing behemoth confirmed on Thursday that it deleted several hundred accounts along with the thousands of videos that were problematic.

The move came after a British newspaper reported that ads for big- name brands were displayed alongside videos of children or teens which, while innocent on their own, drew viewer comments that seemed pedophile in nature.

Media reports indicate the situation made advertisers skittish, with some halting YouTube advertising.

US computer maker HP told AFP it stopped advertising on YouTube due to concerns.

“We are deeply troubled to learn that one of our advertisements was placed in a terrible and inappropriate context,” an HP spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.

Digital advertising dollars brought in by Google are the revenue engine that powers all units of parent- company Alphabet.

Google said it has also banned advertising on more than two million videos and 50,000 channels that were presented as family- friendly content but weren’t.

The California- based company also said it blocked comments from being made for another 6,25,000 videos.

YouTube said it has clear policies against videos or comments that sexualise or exploit children, and that it emphatically applies them when alerted to violations.