Google to automatically find and remove terror videos

Google has said it will start to automatically search Youtube to find and remove extremist videos, following criticism from governments that it’s not doing enough to fight terrorism online.

Writing on Google’s blog, Kent Walker ( www.snipca. com/24756), the company’s top lawyer, said machine learning will identify content that should be removed.

He added that it’s not an easy task because “a video of a terrorist attack may be informative news reporting if broadcast by the BBC, or glorification of violence if uploaded in a different context by a different user”.

The measure is one of four Google has announced to toughen its stance. It also plans to increase the number of people looking for extremist videos on Youtube because, Walker says, “human experts still play a role in nuanced decisions about the line between violent propaganda and religious or newsworthy speech”.

Another new measure sees Google changing its policy on videos that don’t violate its rules, but do contain, for example, “inflammatory religious or supremacist content”. These videos won’t make money through adverts, and users won’t be able to recommend or comment on them, making them harder for other viewers to find.

Walker says this is a balance between “free expression and access to information without promoting extremely offensive viewpoints”.

Lastly, Youtube will expand its role in counterradicalisation efforts, in particular targeting potential Islamic State recruits with online adverts that direct them to anti-terrorist videos.

Google’s announcement came three days before the Queen’s Speech, in which the Government said it wouldn’t “shy away” from tackling extremist content online.

It’s planning a Digital Charter to make the UK “the safest place in the world to be online”.