Indian filmmaker Suneel Darshan, famed for films like 'Inteqam' and 'Andaaz,' has filed a FIR against Google, its CEO, Sundar Pichai, and numerous other Google workers, alleging copyright violations of his 2017 directorial 'Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha' on YouTube.

Darshan claims that, despite the fact that he did not upload the film anywhere or sell it to anyone, it is being profited from by many YouTube channels, and that Google has refused to remove the film from those channels.

Infringement of Sections 51, 63, and 69 of the Copyright Act of 1957, according to his FIR filed with the MIDC Police Station in Andheri East.&nbsp;

He said: "My faith and belief in the advancement of technology are implicit, but the infringement of my rights is a cause of grave concern." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-awards-padma-bhushan-to-googles-sundar-pichai-and-microsofts-satya-nadella-447531">Also read | FIR against Google CEO Sundar Pichai, five others over film piracy on YouTube</a>

He added: "My entire copyrighted movie, apart from its songs and sequences from it, has been uploaded and monetised, and I have helplessly watched such illegal acts."

In the complaint, Google LLC, YouTube LLC, Google India Ltd., Pichai, and others were mentioned.

Sections 51, 63, and 69 of the Copyright Act, 1957, which deal with copyright infringement, were used to record the offence.

When contacted for comment, a Google spokesperson in India stated that the company relies on copyright owners to notify it of unauthorised uploads and that it provides them with "rights management tools, such as YouTube's Content ID system, which gives rights holders an automated way to identify, block, promote, and even make money from uploads of their content."&nbsp; 
 
Watch: Google CEO Sundar Pichai to be questioned in privacy lawsuit

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-to-be-questioned-in-privacy-lawsuit-440842/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"When a copyright holder notifies us of a video that infringes their copyright, we remove the content promptly in accordance with the law, and terminate the accounts of users with multiple copyright strikes," the spokesperson added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian filmmaker Suneel Darshan, famed for films like 'Inteqam' and 'Andaaz,' has filed a FIR against Google, its CEO, Sundar Pichai, and numerous other Google workers, alleging copyright violations of his 2017 directorial 'Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha' on YouTube.

Indian filmmaker Suneel Darshan, famed for films like 'Inteqam' and 'Andaaz,' has filed a FIR against Google, its CEO, Sundar Pichai, and numerous other Google workers, alleging copyright violations of his 2017 directorial 'Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha' on YouTube. Darshan claims that, despite the fact that he did not upload the film anywhere or sell it to anyone, it is being profited from by many YouTube channels, and that Google has refused to remove the film from those channels. Infringement of Sections 51, 63, and 69 of the Copyright Act of 1957, according to his FIR filed with the MIDC Police Station in Andheri East. He said: "My faith and belief in the advancement of technology are implicit, but the infringement of my rights is a cause of grave concern." Also read | FIR against Google CEO Sundar Pichai, five others over film piracy on YouTube He added: "My entire copyrighted movie, apart from its songs and sequences from it, has been uploaded and monetised, and I have helplessly watched such illegal acts." In the complaint, Google LLC, YouTube LLC, Google India Ltd., Pichai, and others were mentioned. Sections 51, 63, and 69 of the Copyright Act, 1957, which deal with copyright infringement, were used to record the offence. When contacted for comment, a Google spokesperson in India stated that the company relies on copyright owners to notify it of unauthorised uploads and that it provides them with "rights management tools, such as YouTube's Content ID system, which gives rights holders an automated way to identify, block, promote, and even make money from uploads of their content." Watch: Google CEO Sundar Pichai to be questioned in privacy lawsuit "When a copyright holder notifies us of a video that infringes their copyright, we remove the content promptly in accordance with the law, and terminate the accounts of users with multiple copyright strikes," the spokesperson added. (With inputs from agencies)

FIR against Google CEO Sundar Pichai, five others over film piracy on YouTube

India has decided to crack down on some YouTube channels and websites that according to the Indian government. are involved in propagating fake news.

India cracks down on Pakistan-based YouTube channels propagating fake news against the government

The Indian government has ordered to block&nbsp;35 YouTube channels and two websites that were said to be running “anti-India propaganda” and spreading fake news “in a coordinated manner”.

These websites and YouTube channels were being operated from Pakistan, the Information and Broadcasting ministry said on Friday.

These websites and channels had a total of 120 million subscribers and were running fake news on&nbsp;former Chief of Defence Staff Late General Bipin Rawat, the ministry stated.

The order was issued on Thursday.

“The YouTube channels, websites, and other social media accounts blocked by the Ministry were used by Pakistan for spreading anti-India fake news about sensitive subjects related to India,” it said in a statement.

“These include topics such as the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir, and India’s foreign relations with other countries. It was observed that rampant fake news was spread through the YouTube channels regarding the demise of the former Chief of Defence Staff Late General Bipin Rawat. These YouTube channels had also started posting content to undermine the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states,” it said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/20-youtube-channels-two-websites-taken-down-under-it-act-for-anti-india-propaganda-report-438631">20 YouTube channels, two websites taken down under IT Act for ‘anti-India’ propaganda: Report</a>

The Indian intelligence agencies were closely monitoring these social media accounts and websites and flagged them to the ministry for immediate action, he added.

"Vide five separate orders issued under rule 16 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry has ordered to block these Pakistan-based social media accounts and websites," the ministry said in a statement later.

Among the channels that were ordered to be blocked include Apni Duniya Network, which was operating 14 YouTube channels, and Talha Films Network operating 13 YouTube channels.

A set of four channels, and a set of two other channels were also found to be acting in synchronization with each other.

“All these networks appeared to be operated with a single goal of spreading fake news oriented towards the Indian audience. The channels which were part of a network used common hashtags and editing styles, were being operated by common persons, and cross promoted each other’s content. Some of the YouTube channels were being operated by anchors of Pakistani TV news channels,” the ministry said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Indian government has ordered to block 35 YouTube channels and two websites that were said to be running “anti-India propaganda” and spreading fake news “in a coordinated manner”.

The Indian government has ordered to block 35 YouTube channels and two websites that were said to be running “anti-India propaganda” and spreading fake news “in a coordinated manner”. These websites and YouTube channels were being operated from Pakistan, the Information and Broadcasting ministry said on Friday. These websites and channels had a total of 120 million subscribers and were running fake news on former Chief of Defence Staff Late General Bipin Rawat, the ministry stated. The order was issued on Thursday. “The YouTube channels, websites, and other social media accounts blocked by the Ministry were used by Pakistan for spreading anti-India fake news about sensitive subjects related to India,” it said in a statement. “These include topics such as the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir, and India’s foreign relations with other countries. It was observed that rampant fake news was spread through the YouTube channels regarding the demise of the former Chief of Defence Staff Late General Bipin Rawat. These YouTube channels had also started posting content to undermine the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states,” it said. Also read | 20 YouTube channels, two websites taken down under IT Act for ‘anti-India’ propaganda: Report The Indian intelligence agencies were closely monitoring these social media accounts and websites and flagged them to the ministry for immediate action, he added. "Vide five separate orders issued under rule 16 of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry has ordered to block these Pakistan-based social media accounts and websites," the ministry said in a statement later. Among the channels that were ordered to be blocked include Apni Duniya Network, which was operating 14 YouTube channels, and Talha Films Network operating 13 YouTube channels. A set of four channels, and a set of two other channels were also found to be acting in synchronization with each other. “All these networks appeared to be operated with a single goal of spreading fake news oriented towards the Indian audience. The channels which were part of a network used common hashtags and editing styles, were being operated by common persons, and cross promoted each other’s content. Some of the YouTube channels were being operated by anchors of Pakistani TV news channels,” the ministry said. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian govt bans 35 YouTube channels, 2 websites for running ‘anti-India’ propaganda

YouTube was urged by more than 80 fact-checking organisations to better combat disinformation. They offered help to debunk false statements. The fact-checkers called YouTube 'one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation'

"Every day, we see that YouTube is one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation worldwide," said the groups spanning the globe, from Politifact and the Washington Post in the United States to the Kenya-based Africa Check.

In an open letter, the fact-checking organisations said that videos containing false information had gone "under the radar of YouTube's policies, especially in non-English speaking countries". The open letter was addressed to YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki.

"We urge you to take effective action against disinformation and misinformation... and to do so with the world's independent, non-partisan fact-checking organisations," they added.

"Our experience as fact-checkers together with academic evidence tells us that surfacing fact-checked information is more effective than deleting content."

It also urged the platform to make sure its recommendation algorithm did not actively promote disinformation to its users.

YouTube spokesperson Elena Hernandez defended the platform, saying that fact checking was a "crucial tool", but just "one piece of a much larger puzzle to address the spread of misinformation".

"Over the years, we've invested heavily in policies and products in all countries... to connect people to authoritative content, reduce the spread of borderline misinformation, and remove violative videos," she added.

She said YouTube had seen "important progress".

(With inputs from agencies)

YouTube was urged by more than 80 fact-checking organisations to better combat disinformation. They offered help to debunk false statements. The fact-checkers called YouTube 'one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation' "Every day, we see that YouTube is one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation worldwide," said the groups spanning the globe, from Politifact and the Washington Post in the United States to the Kenya-based Africa Check.

YouTube was urged by more than 80 fact-checking organisations to better combat disinformation. They offered help to debunk false statements. The fact-checkers called YouTube 'one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation' "Every day, we see that YouTube is one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation worldwide," said the groups spanning the globe, from Politifact and the Washington Post in the United States to the Kenya-based Africa Check. In an open letter, the fact-checking organisations said that videos containing false information had gone "under the radar of YouTube's policies, especially in non-English speaking countries". The open letter was addressed to YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki. "We urge you to take effective action against disinformation and misinformation... and to do so with the world's independent, non-partisan fact-checking organisations," they added. "Our experience as fact-checkers together with academic evidence tells us that surfacing fact-checked information is more effective than deleting content." It also urged the platform to make sure its recommendation algorithm did not actively promote disinformation to its users. YouTube spokesperson Elena Hernandez defended the platform, saying that fact checking was a "crucial tool", but just "one piece of a much larger puzzle to address the spread of misinformation". "Over the years, we've invested heavily in policies and products in all countries... to connect people to authoritative content, reduce the spread of borderline misinformation, and remove violative videos," she added. She said YouTube had seen "important progress". (With inputs from agencies)

YouTube urged by fact-checkers to fight disinformation

Invoking for the first time the recently notified intermediary guidelines and digital media ethics code under the Information and Technology (IT) Act, 20 YouTube channels and two websites were banned by the Indian government for allegedly running ‘anti-India’ propaganda from Pakistan, according to reports.

According to Economic Times (ET) newspaper, which cited sources, Information and Broadcasting (I&amp;B) secretary Apurva Chandra wrote to YouTube and the Department of Telecom, directing them to immediately block the content which impinges the sovereignty and integrity of India.

According to the reports, the contents&nbsp;were “blasphemous” in nature and were being funded by Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Watch | Gravitas:&nbsp;India dismantles Pak's fake news network

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It was first flagged by the Indian security agencies, following which the I&amp;B ministry conducted an inquiry.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-govt-issues-one-last-notice-to-twitter-to-comply-with-it-rules-389639">Indian govt issues 'one last notice' to Twitter to comply with IT rules</a>

Among the sites that were taken down include ‘Naya Pakistan’, which had over two million subscribers on YouTube. It was reportedly running “false news” on issues such as Kashmir, farmers’ protests against the farm laws and Ayodhya.

Another portal that was banned is ‘Naya Pakistan Group’, which ran over 15 channels on YouTube and had a following of more than a million subscribers.

According to the reports, the channel ran contents like ‘PM Modi concedes defeat in Kashmir; Article 370 restored’, ‘Taliban Army leaves Kabul for India’, ‘Taiyyap Erdogan sends 35,000 mercenaries for Kashmir’, and the ‘Turk Army enters Ayodhya Ram Mandir to Take revenge’— all of which were seen by the ministry as a “concerted effort to sow unrest in India”.&nbsp;

Under section 16 of the IT Rules, the I&amp;B ministry can block content that is considered “necessary or expedient and justifiable to block”.

Officials said the decision to ban and block these channels and websites will be presented before the Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) within 48 hours, following which it will be ratified by a committee under the IT Rules, 2021, ET reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

Invoking for the first time the recently notified intermediary guidelines and digital media ethics code under the Information and Technology (IT) Act, 20 YouTube channels and two websites were banned by the Indian government for allegedly running ‘anti-India’ propaganda from Pakistan, according to reports.

Invoking for the first time the recently notified intermediary guidelines and digital media ethics code under the Information and Technology (IT) Act, 20 YouTube channels and two websites were banned by the Indian government for allegedly running ‘anti-India’ propaganda from Pakistan, according to reports. According to Economic Times (ET) newspaper, which cited sources, Information and Broadcasting (I&B) secretary Apurva Chandra wrote to YouTube and the Department of Telecom, directing them to immediately block the content which impinges the sovereignty and integrity of India. According to the reports, the contents were “blasphemous” in nature and were being funded by Pakistan’s spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Watch | Gravitas: India dismantles Pak's fake news network It was first flagged by the Indian security agencies, following which the I&B ministry conducted an inquiry. Also read | Indian govt issues 'one last notice' to Twitter to comply with IT rules Among the sites that were taken down include ‘Naya Pakistan’, which had over two million subscribers on YouTube. It was reportedly running “false news” on issues such as Kashmir, farmers’ protests against the farm laws and Ayodhya. Another portal that was banned is ‘Naya Pakistan Group’, which ran over 15 channels on YouTube and had a following of more than a million subscribers. According to the reports, the channel ran contents like ‘PM Modi concedes defeat in Kashmir; Article 370 restored’, ‘Taliban Army leaves Kabul for India’, ‘Taiyyap Erdogan sends 35,000 mercenaries for Kashmir’, and the ‘Turk Army enters Ayodhya Ram Mandir to Take revenge’— all of which were seen by the ministry as a “concerted effort to sow unrest in India”. Under section 16 of the IT Rules, the I&B ministry can block content that is considered “necessary or expedient and justifiable to block”. Officials said the decision to ban and block these channels and websites will be presented before the Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) within 48 hours, following which it will be ratified by a committee under the IT Rules, 2021, ET reported. (With inputs from agencies)

20 YouTube channels, two websites taken down under IT Act for ‘anti-India’ propaganda: Report

20 YouTube channels and two websites were banned by the Indian government under the Information and Technology (IT) Act for allegedly running ‘anti-India’ propaganda from Pakistan.

20 YouTube channels, two websites taken down for ‘anti-India’ propaganda

YouTube have started hiding public dislike statistics on content throughout the platform from Wednesday.

According to the firm, the change is intended to protect smaller creators from hate assaults or harassment, as well as to foster "respectful relationships between viewers and creators."

The hate button will remain, but it will be used for private criticism rather than public shame. Users can still click the thumbs down button on videos to signal their dislike to creators privately.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, creators will be able to track their dislikes in YouTube Studio alongside other analytics about their video’s performance, if they choose.

Given the extent to which it affects the public's visibility into a video's reception, the decision is sure to be contentious.

However, YouTube believes the adjustment would better protect its artists from abuse and lessen the potential of "dislike assaults," which occur when a group works together to increase the number of dislikes a video receives.&nbsp;

The modification is the result of an experiment conducted by YouTube earlier this year to see if such adjustments might reduce hate assaults and creator harassment.

YouTube said at the time that public hate counts can have an impact on producers' well-being and may encourage focused campaigns to increase dislikes to videos.

While this is true, dislikes may also be used to alert people when videos are clickbait, spam, or misleading, which can be valuable.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

YouTube have started hiding public dislike statistics on content throughout the platform from Wednesday. According to the firm, the change is intended to protect smaller creators from hate assaults or harassment, as well as to foster "respectful relationships between viewers and creators.

YouTube have started hiding public dislike statistics on content throughout the platform from Wednesday. According to the firm, the change is intended to protect smaller creators from hate assaults or harassment, as well as to foster "respectful relationships between viewers and creators." The hate button will remain, but it will be used for private criticism rather than public shame. Users can still click the thumbs down button on videos to signal their dislike to creators privately. Meanwhile, creators will be able to track their dislikes in YouTube Studio alongside other analytics about their video’s performance, if they choose. Given the extent to which it affects the public's visibility into a video's reception, the decision is sure to be contentious. However, YouTube believes the adjustment would better protect its artists from abuse and lessen the potential of "dislike assaults," which occur when a group works together to increase the number of dislikes a video receives. The modification is the result of an experiment conducted by YouTube earlier this year to see if such adjustments might reduce hate assaults and creator harassment. YouTube said at the time that public hate counts can have an impact on producers' well-being and may encourage focused campaigns to increase dislikes to videos. While this is true, dislikes may also be used to alert people when videos are clickbait, spam, or misleading, which can be valuable. (With inputs from agencies)

YouTube gives dislikes the thumbs-down, hides public counts

Lawmakers on Tuesday grilled executives from YouTube, Snap and TikTok about mounting concerns that their platforms can harm children and teenagers.

A bipartisan group of senators expressed concerns that the companies’ software steered young people toward inappropriate posts, mishandled consumer data and did not do enough to spot dangerous content on their platforms. Lawmakers repeatedly said their staff had been able to find harmful content — including posts related to self-harm and pornography — inside the companies’ products, sometimes while logged in as a teenager.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., opened the hearing by accusing the companies of drawing young people further and further into their products.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hate-easiest-way-to-grow-on-facebook-whistleblower-frances-haugen-testifies-before-uk-parliament-423970">Hate easiest way to grow on Facebook: Whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies before UK parliament</a>

“Everything that you do is to add users, especially kids, and keep them on your apps for longer,” said Blumenthal, who leads the subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee holding the hearing.

The companies sent executives with political experience to answer the questions. TikTok was represented by Michael Beckerman, its head of public policy for the Americas who used to lead a top lobbying group for internet companies. Leslie Miller, YouTube’s vice president for government affairs and public policy and a former Democratic political aide, appeared on behalf of the streaming site. Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, sent Jennifer Stout, its vice president for global public policy and John Kerry’s former deputy chief of staff.

Two weeks ago, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager who leaked thousands of pages of internal documents, told the committee how the company knew that its products made teenagers feel worse about themselves. The decision to invite executives from other companies reflects how the lawmakers’ concerns go beyond Facebook and its photo app, Instagram, to include other major platforms across the web.

The companies quickly tried to distance themselves from each other, while arguing they were already taking significant steps to protect child users.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-whistleblower-brings-campaign-to-europe-after-disclosures-424161">Facebook whistleblower brings campaign to Europe after disclosures</a>

Stout said that Snapchat was an “antidote to social media” and stressed the differences between Snapchat and Instagram. She said that her company’s app focused on connecting people who already knew each other in real life, rather than feeding them a constant stream of content from strangers. And she said it focused on privacy, making images and messages delete by default.

She also stressed that Snapchat moderates the public content it promotes more heavily than other social media companies. Human moderators review content from publishers before promoting it in Discover, the public section of Snapchat that contains news and entertainment, Stout said. Content on Spotlight, Snap’s creator program that promotes videos from its users, is reviewed by artificial intelligence before being distributed, and reviewed by human moderators before it can be watched by more than 25 users, Stout added.

Beckerman said that TikTok was different from other platforms that focus more on direct communication between users. “It’s about uplifting, entertaining content,” he said. “People love it.”

He said that policymakers should look at the systems that verify whether users were old enough to use a product, suggesting that legislation should include language on age verification “across apps.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/inside-the-big-facebook-leak-423804">Inside the big Facebook leak</a>

Lawmakers also hammered Beckerman about whether TikTok’s Chinese ownership could expose consumer data to Beijing. Critics have long argued that the company would be obligated to turn Americans’ data over to the Chinese government if asked.

“Access controls for our data is done by our US&nbsp;teams,” said Beckerman. “And as independent researchers, independent experts have pointed out, the data that TikTok has on the app is not of a national security importance and is of low sensitivity.”

Senators repeatedly tried to prod the companies to commit to more transparency for researchers to investigate the health and safety of their platforms as well as support for elements of potential privacy legislation.

Miller of YouTube refused to be pinned down in a series of exchanges with senators. When Blumenthal asked whether the companies would allow independent researchers access to algorithms, data sets and data privacy practices, Miller responded, “It would depend on the details, but we’re always looking to partner with experts in these important fields.”

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: How Facebook profits from hate

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Blumenthal shot back that YouTube’s answer “indicates certainly a strong hesitancy if not resistance to providing access.”

Similarly, Miller seemed reluctant to commit to aspects of potential privacy legislation such as a proposed update to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Specifically, she waffled on whether YouTube would support a ban on targeted advertising for children or curbs on adding “likes” or comments on videos — even as Miller said that the company already did not permit such features on children’s content.

The companies frequently argued that they were already taking the kind of steps that could be required by laws in the future.

“We believe that regulation is necessary but given the speed at which technology develops and the rate at which regulation can be implemented, regulation alone can’t get the job done,” Stout said.

Lawmakers resisted efforts by the executives to paint their employers as the exception to concerns about children's safety online.

“I understand from your testimony that your defense is: We’re not Facebook,” Blumenthal said. “Being different from Facebook is not a defense. That bar is in the gutter.”

Lawmakers on Tuesday grilled executives from YouTube, Snap and TikTok about mounting concerns that their platforms can harm children and teenagers. A bipartisan group of senators expressed concerns that the companies’ software steered young people toward inappropriate posts, mishandled consumer data and did not do enough to spot dangerous content on their platforms.

Lawmakers on Tuesday grilled executives from YouTube, Snap and TikTok about mounting concerns that their platforms can harm children and teenagers. A bipartisan group of senators expressed concerns that the companies’ software steered young people toward inappropriate posts, mishandled consumer data and did not do enough to spot dangerous content on their platforms. Lawmakers repeatedly said their staff had been able to find harmful content — including posts related to self-harm and pornography — inside the companies’ products, sometimes while logged in as a teenager. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., opened the hearing by accusing the companies of drawing young people further and further into their products. Also read | Hate easiest way to grow on Facebook: Whistleblower Frances Haugen testifies before UK parliament “Everything that you do is to add users, especially kids, and keep them on your apps for longer,” said Blumenthal, who leads the subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee holding the hearing. The companies sent executives with political experience to answer the questions. TikTok was represented by Michael Beckerman, its head of public policy for the Americas who used to lead a top lobbying group for internet companies. Leslie Miller, YouTube’s vice president for government affairs and public policy and a former Democratic political aide, appeared on behalf of the streaming site. Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, sent Jennifer Stout, its vice president for global public policy and John Kerry’s former deputy chief of staff. Two weeks ago, Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager who leaked thousands of pages of internal documents, told the committee how the company knew that its products made teenagers feel worse about themselves. The decision to invite executives from other companies reflects how the lawmakers’ concerns go beyond Facebook and its photo app, Instagram, to include other major platforms across the web. The companies quickly tried to distance themselves from each other, while arguing they were already taking significant steps to protect child users. Also read | Facebook whistleblower brings campaign to Europe after disclosures Stout said that Snapchat was an “antidote to social media” and stressed the differences between Snapchat and Instagram. She said that her company’s app focused on connecting people who already knew each other in real life, rather than feeding them a constant stream of content from strangers. And she said it focused on privacy, making images and messages delete by default. She also stressed that Snapchat moderates the public content it promotes more heavily than other social media companies. Human moderators review content from publishers before promoting it in Discover, the public section of Snapchat that contains news and entertainment, Stout said. Content on Spotlight, Snap’s creator program that promotes videos from its users, is reviewed by artificial intelligence before being distributed, and reviewed by human moderators before it can be watched by more than 25 users, Stout added. Beckerman said that TikTok was different from other platforms that focus more on direct communication between users. “It’s about uplifting, entertaining content,” he said. “People love it.” He said that policymakers should look at the systems that verify whether users were old enough to use a product, suggesting that legislation should include language on age verification “across apps.” Also read | Inside the big Facebook leak Lawmakers also hammered Beckerman about whether TikTok’s Chinese ownership could expose consumer data to Beijing. Critics have long argued that the company would be obligated to turn Americans’ data over to the Chinese government if asked. “Access controls for our data is done by our US teams,” said Beckerman. “And as independent researchers, independent experts have pointed out, the data that TikTok has on the app is not of a national security importance and is of low sensitivity.” Senators repeatedly tried to prod the companies to commit to more transparency for researchers to investigate the health and safety of their platforms as well as support for elements of potential privacy legislation. Miller of YouTube refused to be pinned down in a series of exchanges with senators. When Blumenthal asked whether the companies would allow independent researchers access to algorithms, data sets and data privacy practices, Miller responded, “It would depend on the details, but we’re always looking to partner with experts in these important fields.” Watch | Gravitas: How Facebook profits from hate Blumenthal shot back that YouTube’s answer “indicates certainly a strong hesitancy if not resistance to providing access.” Similarly, Miller seemed reluctant to commit to aspects of potential privacy legislation such as a proposed update to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Specifically, she waffled on whether YouTube would support a ban on targeted advertising for children or curbs on adding “likes” or comments on videos — even as Miller said that the company already did not permit such features on children’s content. The companies frequently argued that they were already taking the kind of steps that could be required by laws in the future. “We believe that regulation is necessary but given the speed at which technology develops and the rate at which regulation can be implemented, regulation alone can’t get the job done,” Stout said. Lawmakers resisted efforts by the executives to paint their employers as the exception to concerns about children's safety online. “I understand from your testimony that your defense is: We’re not Facebook,” Blumenthal said. “Being different from Facebook is not a defense. That bar is in the gutter.”

YouTube, Snap and TikTok executives take their turn answering to Washington

US Senators put executives from YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat on the defensive, questioning them about how they are ensuring young users’ safety on their platforms.

US lawmakers questions YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok on kids’ online safety

Facebook and YouTube have removed a video by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro from its platforms, in which he made a false claim that COVID-19 vaccines were linked with developing AIDS.

Facebook, YouTube purge Bolsonaro video over false vaccine claim

Facebook and YouTube have removed from their platforms a video by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in which the far-right leader made a false claim that COVID-19 vaccines were linked with developing AIDS.

Both Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube said the video, which was recorded on Thursday, violated their policies.

"Our policies don't allow claims that COVID-19 vaccines kill or seriously harm people," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/here-for-the-articles-pornhub-goes-up-as-facebook-servers-were-down-419167">'Here for the articles': Pornhub goes up as Facebook servers were down</a>

YouTube confirmed that it had taken the same step later in the day.

"We removed a video from Jair Bolsonaro's channel for violating our medical disinformation policy regarding COVID-19 for alleging that vaccines don't reduce the risk of contracting the disease and that they cause other infectious diseases," YouTube said in a statement.

According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), COVID-19 vaccines approved by health regulators are safe for most people, including those living with HIV, the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, known as AIDS.

Facebook and YouTube have removed from their platforms a video by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in which the far-right leader made a false claim that COVID-19 vaccines were linked with developing AIDS.

Facebook and YouTube have removed from their platforms a video by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in which the far-right leader made a false claim that COVID-19 vaccines were linked with developing AIDS. Both Facebook and Alphabet Inc's YouTube said the video, which was recorded on Thursday, violated their policies. "Our policies don't allow claims that COVID-19 vaccines kill or seriously harm people," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement on Monday. Also Read | 'Here for the articles': Pornhub goes up as Facebook servers were down YouTube confirmed that it had taken the same step later in the day. "We removed a video from Jair Bolsonaro's channel for violating our medical disinformation policy regarding COVID-19 for alleging that vaccines don't reduce the risk of contracting the disease and that they cause other infectious diseases," YouTube said in a statement. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), COVID-19 vaccines approved by health regulators are safe for most people, including those living with HIV, the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, known as AIDS.

Facebook, YouTube take down Bolsonaro video over false vaccine claim

Amid social networks' crackdown on health misinformation, YouTube said on Wednesday that it was going to remove anti-vaccine content&nbsp;including that of&nbsp;high-profile users who claim approved vaccines are dangerous. YouTube has already banned posts that spread false myths around coronavirus treatments.

But the Google-owned site said its concerns about the spread of medical conspiracy theories went beyond the pandemic.

"We've steadily seen false claims about the coronavirus vaccines spill over into misinformation about vaccines in general," YouTube said in a statement.

"We're now at a point where it's more important than ever to expand the work we started with COVID-19 to other vaccines."

A YouTube spokesperson named channels affiliated with Joseph Mercola, Sherri Tenpenny, Robert F Kennedy junior and said that "well-known vaccine misinformation spreaders will be terminated."

An AFP investigation found that Tenpenny runs a sprawling enterprise based on anti-vaccine activism, disdain for masks and testing, and denials that COVID-19 is real.

Mercola, a Florida-based osteopathic physician, was the subject of a New York Times article titled: "The most influential spreader of coronavirus misinformation online".

Robert F Kennedy Jr. had already been blocked from Instagram in February for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines.

130,000 videos removed

YouTube said the expanded policy will apply to "currently administered vaccines that are approved and confirmed to be safe and effective by local health authorities and the WHO (World Health Organization)."

This means that false claims about routine vaccines for diseases like measles and Hepatitis B will be removed from YouTube.

These would include cases where vloggers have claimed that approved vaccines do not work, or wrongly linked them to chronic health effects.

Content that "falsely says that approved vaccines cause autism, cancer or infertility, or that substances in vaccines can track those who receive them" will also be taken down.

"As with any significant update, it will take time for our systems to fully ramp up enforcement," YouTube added.

It stressed there would be exceptions to the new guidelines, with personal testimonials of negative experiences with vaccines still allowed, so long as "the channel doesn't show a pattern of promoting vaccine hesitancy."

YouTube said it had removed more than 130,000 videos since last year for violating its COVID-19 vaccine policies.

On Tuesday, the company told German media that it had blocked the German-language channels of Russia's state broadcaster RT for violating its Covid misinformation guidelines.

YouTube said it had issued a warning to RT before shutting the two channels down, but the move has prompted a threat from Moscow to block the video site.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid social networks' crackdown on health misinformation, YouTube said on Wednesday that it was going to remove anti-vaccine content including that of high-profile users who claim approved vaccines are dangerous.

Amid social networks' crackdown on health misinformation, YouTube said on Wednesday that it was going to remove anti-vaccine content including that of high-profile users who claim approved vaccines are dangerous. YouTube has already banned posts that spread false myths around coronavirus treatments. But the Google-owned site said its concerns about the spread of medical conspiracy theories went beyond the pandemic. "We've steadily seen false claims about the coronavirus vaccines spill over into misinformation about vaccines in general," YouTube said in a statement. "We're now at a point where it's more important than ever to expand the work we started with COVID-19 to other vaccines." A YouTube spokesperson named channels affiliated with Joseph Mercola, Sherri Tenpenny, Robert F Kennedy junior and said that "well-known vaccine misinformation spreaders will be terminated." An AFP investigation found that Tenpenny runs a sprawling enterprise based on anti-vaccine activism, disdain for masks and testing, and denials that COVID-19 is real. Mercola, a Florida-based osteopathic physician, was the subject of a New York Times article titled: "The most influential spreader of coronavirus misinformation online". Robert F Kennedy Jr. had already been blocked from Instagram in February for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines. 130,000 videos removed YouTube said the expanded policy will apply to "currently administered vaccines that are approved and confirmed to be safe and effective by local health authorities and the WHO (World Health Organization)." This means that false claims about routine vaccines for diseases like measles and Hepatitis B will be removed from YouTube. These would include cases where vloggers have claimed that approved vaccines do not work, or wrongly linked them to chronic health effects. Content that "falsely says that approved vaccines cause autism, cancer or infertility, or that substances in vaccines can track those who receive them" will also be taken down. "As with any significant update, it will take time for our systems to fully ramp up enforcement," YouTube added. It stressed there would be exceptions to the new guidelines, with personal testimonials of negative experiences with vaccines still allowed, so long as "the channel doesn't show a pattern of promoting vaccine hesitancy." YouTube said it had removed more than 130,000 videos since last year for violating its COVID-19 vaccine policies. On Tuesday, the company told German media that it had blocked the German-language channels of Russia's state broadcaster RT for violating its Covid misinformation guidelines. YouTube said it had issued a warning to RT before shutting the two channels down, but the move has prompted a threat from Moscow to block the video site. (With inputs from agencies)

YouTube to block all content spreading vaccine misinformation

YouTube announced a total ban Wednesday on vaccine misinformation and the termination of the accounts of several prominent anti-vaccine influencers. Watch this report for more details.

YouTube cracks down on anti-vaccine videos, bans major accounts

The German-language channel of Russia Today (RT) has been blocked by YouTube due to allegations of misinformation on coronavirus. Now as a subtle revenge, Russia has threatened to ban YouTube in the country.

RT is Russia's state-controlled television network and very popular in the Putin-led country. RT was recently alleged to be&nbsp;spreading misinformation related to coronavirus, especially in Germany.

The channel had received one strike by YouTube earlier. As a result of this the media house was not allowed to post any new content on the video platform for at least a week.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-bases-in-central-asia-came-up-during-putin-biden-talks-us-defence-secretary-416657">Russia bases in Central Asia came up during Putin-Biden talks: US Defence Secy</a>

However, RT decided to play it smart and use a loophole. The channel used an alternate account titled "Der Fehlende Part"&nbsp;to post content.

This action led to yet another strike as a suspended account is not allowed to post from any other alternate account too. RT’s attempt to play smart, however, resulted in yet another controversy for the channel. As a result, both accounts of the Russian channels have been terminated.

YouTube's action has angered RT and the Editor-in-Chief, Margarita Simonyan, had called this a "real media war declared by the state of Germany to the state of Russia".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fuel-crisis-russian-media-mocks-uk-compares-it-to-soviet-russia-416768">Fuel crisis: Russian media mocks UK, compares it to Soviet Russia</a>

She also reported that "earlier, Luxembourg refused to grant us a broadcasting license, citing the opinion of the German authorities."

After this tussle between the channel and the video platform, Russia’s government media watchdog has warned that if the terminated channels are not resorted as soon as possible, Russia will ban YouTube in the whole country.

"I really look forward to the fact that my native state, without delay, will ban Deutsche Welle and other German media in Russia, as well as close the offices of ARD and ZDF," the Editor-in-chief of RT said.

"I'm already silent about the sanctions to YouTube itself. At least out of self-respect, we must do this."

&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The German-language channel of Russia Today (RT) has been blocked by YouTube due to allegations of misinformation on coronavirus. Now as a subtle revenge, Russia has threatened to ban YouTube in the country.

The German-language channel of Russia Today (RT) has been blocked by YouTube due to allegations of misinformation on coronavirus. Now as a subtle revenge, Russia has threatened to ban YouTube in the country. RT is Russia's state-controlled television network and very popular in the Putin-led country. RT was recently alleged to be spreading misinformation related to coronavirus, especially in Germany. The channel had received one strike by YouTube earlier. As a result of this the media house was not allowed to post any new content on the video platform for at least a week. Also read | Russia bases in Central Asia came up during Putin-Biden talks: US Defence Secy However, RT decided to play it smart and use a loophole. The channel used an alternate account titled "Der Fehlende Part" to post content. This action led to yet another strike as a suspended account is not allowed to post from any other alternate account too. RT’s attempt to play smart, however, resulted in yet another controversy for the channel. As a result, both accounts of the Russian channels have been terminated. YouTube's action has angered RT and the Editor-in-Chief, Margarita Simonyan, had called this a "real media war declared by the state of Germany to the state of Russia". Also read | Fuel crisis: Russian media mocks UK, compares it to Soviet Russia She also reported that "earlier, Luxembourg refused to grant us a broadcasting license, citing the opinion of the German authorities." After this tussle between the channel and the video platform, Russia’s government media watchdog has warned that if the terminated channels are not resorted as soon as possible, Russia will ban YouTube in the whole country. "I really look forward to the fact that my native state, without delay, will ban Deutsche Welle and other German media in Russia, as well as close the offices of ARD and ZDF," the Editor-in-chief of RT said. "I'm already silent about the sanctions to YouTube itself. At least out of self-respect, we must do this." (With inputs from agencies)

After YouTube bans RT due to multiple violations, Russia threatens to ban video platform

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, stated on Friday that YouTube pays him Rs 4 lakh per month in royalties since viewing of his video lectures on the social media platform rose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gadkari said his ministry has begun grading road building contractors and consultants while reviewing the development of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME) in Bharuch.

Gadkari stated he did two things during COVID-19.&nbsp;

"I became a chef and started cooking at home and giving lectures through video conference. I delivered more than 950 lectures online, including lectures to foreign university students, which were uploaded on YouTube. "Viewership of my YouTube channel has increased, and YouTube now pays me Rs. 4 lakh per month as royalty, " he said.

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In COVID time, I did two things -- I started cooking at home &amp; giving lectures through video conference. I delivered many lectures online, which were uploaded on YouTube. Owing to huge viewership, YouTube now pays me Rs 4 lakhs per month: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (16.09) <a href="https://t.co/IXWhDK6wG9">pic.twitter.com/IXWhDK6wG9</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1438605973896106006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Gadkari, who is known for his candid opinions, stated that those who perform well in India do not receive recognition.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, stated on Friday that YouTube pays him Rs 4 lakh per month in royalties since viewing of his video lectures on the social media platform rose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, stated on Friday that YouTube pays him Rs 4 lakh per month in royalties since viewing of his video lectures on the social media platform rose during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gadkari said his ministry has begun grading road building contractors and consultants while reviewing the development of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME) in Bharuch. Gadkari stated he did two things during COVID-19. "I became a chef and started cooking at home and giving lectures through video conference. I delivered more than 950 lectures online, including lectures to foreign university students, which were uploaded on YouTube. "Viewership of my YouTube channel has increased, and YouTube now pays me Rs. 4 lakh per month as royalty, " he said. In COVID time, I did two things -- I started cooking at home & giving lectures through video conference. I delivered many lectures online, which were uploaded on YouTube. Owing to huge viewership, YouTube now pays me Rs 4 lakhs per month: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (16.09) pic.twitter.com/IXWhDK6wG9 — ANI (@ANI) September 16, 2021 × Gadkari, who is known for his candid opinions, stated that those who perform well in India do not receive recognition. (With inputs from agencies)

I earn Rs 400000 royalty per month from YouTube: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari 

It's been a while since YouTube revealed its total number of paid subscribers: 30 million in October 2020.

Now there's an update: YouTube now has over 50 million users that pay for YouTube Music, YouTube Premium (which includes YouTube Music), or are on a trial for YouTube Music.

The 30 million figure in October did not include people on trials, since YouTube stated at the time that once they were included, the total was 35 million.

Customers who pay for YouTube Music, customers who subscribe to YouTube Premium and receive music as part of their membership, and customers who are currently on a trial basis are all included in the 50 million statistic.

The company did not say how much money it made from subscriptions or what the average price was for users.&nbsp;

The Financial Times and Bloomberg both reported the new figure, with the former citing "two persons knowledgeable on the figures" and the latter citing an interview with YouTube music executive Lyor Cohen - so the figure may be considered official.&nbsp;

“The twin engine growth story is real. There are people who are prepared to pay with their eyeballs and those willing to subscribe. They are both super important,” said Cohen.

For the past decade, Google has dabbled with charging for music, cycling through various different products and names with little success.

However, the current music service's performance, which began in June 2018, implies that YouTube has finally worked out how to get many of its users to pay for music.

According to Midia Research, YouTube is the world's fastest-growing paid music provider, with approximately 8% of the world's subscribers. Spotify is far and away the best.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

It's been a while since YouTube revealed its total number of paid subscribers: 30 million in October 2020. Now there's an update: YouTube now has over 50 million users that pay for YouTube Music, YouTube Premium (which includes YouTube Music), or are on a trial for YouTube Music.

It's been a while since YouTube revealed its total number of paid subscribers: 30 million in October 2020. Now there's an update: YouTube now has over 50 million users that pay for YouTube Music, YouTube Premium (which includes YouTube Music), or are on a trial for YouTube Music. The 30 million figure in October did not include people on trials, since YouTube stated at the time that once they were included, the total was 35 million. Customers who pay for YouTube Music, customers who subscribe to YouTube Premium and receive music as part of their membership, and customers who are currently on a trial basis are all included in the 50 million statistic. The company did not say how much money it made from subscriptions or what the average price was for users. The Financial Times and Bloomberg both reported the new figure, with the former citing "two persons knowledgeable on the figures" and the latter citing an interview with YouTube music executive Lyor Cohen - so the figure may be considered official. “The twin engine growth story is real. There are people who are prepared to pay with their eyeballs and those willing to subscribe. They are both super important,” said Cohen. For the past decade, Google has dabbled with charging for music, cycling through various different products and names with little success. However, the current music service's performance, which began in June 2018, implies that YouTube has finally worked out how to get many of its users to pay for music. According to Midia Research, YouTube is the world's fastest-growing paid music provider, with approximately 8% of the world's subscribers. Spotify is far and away the best. (With inputs from agencies)

YouTube reaches 50 million premium subscribers

The Taliban has understood the power of social media. But the question is - will tech giants like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government and let them host content on their services? We explore that in this video.

How social media platforms are dealing with the Taliban

YouTube&nbsp;said on Thursday it had suspended&nbsp;payments&nbsp;to content producers from 14 channels accused of spreading fake news about next year's&nbsp;election&nbsp;by the country's federal electoral court, the TSE.

Most of the channels offer regular full-throated support to President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain who has been sowing doubts about the credibility of next year's vote. The president is down in the polls after&nbsp;overseeing the world's second deadliest coronavirus outbreak and a weak economy.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-coronavirus-hospitalisations-hit-eight-month-high-over-100000-408696">United States coronavirus hospitalisations hit eight-month high over 100,000</a>

"We reinforce our commitment to collaborating with the work of authorities in Brazil and to continue to invest in policies, resources and products to protect the&nbsp;YouTube&nbsp;community from harmful content," Alphabet Inc's&nbsp;YouTube&nbsp;said in a statement announcing the move.

Last week, the inspector general of electoral justice, Luis Felipe Salomão, ordered&nbsp;YouTube, Twitch.TV, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to suspend&nbsp;payments&nbsp;to people and pages that were spreading&nbsp;disinformation&nbsp;about the&nbsp;Brazilian&nbsp;electoral system.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-issues-draft-guidelines-for-internet-recommendation-algorithms-408694">China issues draft guidelines for internet recommendation algorithms</a>

In July,&nbsp;YouTube&nbsp;said it had removed videos from Bolsonaro's channel for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, becoming the latest tech giant to pull his pandemic pronouncements.

Last year, both Twitter and Facebook took down videos of Bolsonaro for breaching their terms of use after he made pronouncements that went against the recommendations of global public health experts.

YouTube said on Thursday it had suspended payments to content producers from 14 channels accused of spreading fake news about next year's election by the country's federal electoral court, the TSE.

YouTube said on Thursday it had suspended payments to content producers from 14 channels accused of spreading fake news about next year's election by the country's federal electoral court, the TSE. Most of the channels offer regular full-throated support to President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right former army captain who has been sowing doubts about the credibility of next year's vote. The president is down in the polls after overseeing the world's second deadliest coronavirus outbreak and a weak economy. ALSO READ | United States coronavirus hospitalisations hit eight-month high over 100,000 "We reinforce our commitment to collaborating with the work of authorities in Brazil and to continue to invest in policies, resources and products to protect the YouTube community from harmful content," Alphabet Inc's YouTube said in a statement announcing the move. Last week, the inspector general of electoral justice, Luis Felipe Salomão, ordered YouTube, Twitch.TV, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to suspend payments to people and pages that were spreading disinformation about the Brazilian electoral system. ALSO READ | China issues draft guidelines for internet recommendation algorithms In July, YouTube said it had removed videos from Bolsonaro's channel for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, becoming the latest tech giant to pull his pandemic pronouncements. Last year, both Twitter and Facebook took down videos of Bolsonaro for breaching their terms of use after he made pronouncements that went against the recommendations of global public health experts.

YouTube suspends payments to Brazilian accounts over election disinformation

The Taliban's rapid takeover of&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms.

The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites.

These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes.

However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform.

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Here is what various social media giants are doing after the Taliban&nbsp;seized Kabul, confirming their takeover of power in Afghanistan after a stunningly swift end to the country's 20-year war.

Facebook blocks WhatsApp accounts

WhatsApp accounts linked to the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;have been banned after the radical Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan and sought to use the messaging service to help it govern.

"The&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies," a Facebook spokesperson said.

The Facebook move shut down a WhatsApp hotline the&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;had set up to receive complaints about violence and looting, according to the Financial Times.

Facebook had on Monday said it designates the Taliban a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms.

Twitter

On&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover.

However, the company has issued&nbsp;a statement saying that the network would review Taliban's content that may violate its rules, specifically against the glorification of violence or platform manipulation.

Youtube

Alphabet Inc’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has a long-held policy of not allowing accounts believed to be operated by the Taliban on its site, as social media companies faced questions about how they would handle the group that fast gained control of&nbsp;Afghanistan.

The video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups.

The US&nbsp;instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US&nbsp;assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms.

The Taliban's rapid takeover of Afghanistan poses challenges for multiple major social media and messaging platforms on what and who should be allowed on their platforms. The companies, which have come under fire from global lawmakers and regulators for their outsized political and economic influence, often depend on state designations or official international recognitions to determine who is allowed on their sites. These also help determine who might be verified, allowed official state accounts or may receive special treatment for rule-breaking speech due to newsworthiness or public interest loopholes. However, the differences among the tech companies' stances suggest the approach is not uniform. Here is what various social media giants are doing after the Taliban seized Kabul, confirming their takeover of power in Afghanistan after a stunningly swift end to the country's 20-year war. Facebook blocks WhatsApp accounts WhatsApp accounts linked to the Taliban have been banned after the radical Islamic group seized control of Afghanistan and sought to use the messaging service to help it govern. "The Taliban is sanctioned as a terrorist organization under US law and we have banned them from our services under our Dangerous Organization policies," a Facebook spokesperson said. The Facebook move shut down a WhatsApp hotline the Taliban had set up to receive complaints about violence and looting, according to the Financial Times. Facebook had on Monday said it designates the Taliban a terrorist group and bans it and content supporting it from its platforms. Twitter On Twitter Inc, Taliban spokesmen with hundreds of thousands of followers have tweeted updates during the country's takeover. However, the company has issued a statement saying that the network would review Taliban's content that may violate its rules, specifically against the glorification of violence or platform manipulation. Youtube Alphabet Inc’s YouTube said on Tuesday it has a long-held policy of not allowing accounts believed to be operated by the Taliban on its site, as social media companies faced questions about how they would handle the group that fast gained control of Afghanistan. The video-sharing service relies on governments to define "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTO) to guide the site's enforcement of its rules against violent criminal groups. The US instead classifies the Taliban as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist," which freezes the US assets of those blacklisted and bars Americans from working with them. (With inputs from agencies)

What are social media giants doing to curb Taliban amid Afghanistan crisis?

Prajakta Koli, Indian digital content creator and actor, has joined the likes of Shakira, Naomi Osaka and others for Google's impact challege for women and girls, confirms the content creator. &nbsp;

 
Google.org, the charitable arm of the amorphous search engine is committing $25 million in grants to non-profits addressing economic inequities faced by women and girls, as its next Google.org Impact Challenge.

 
Impact Challenges are a way for Google to give money and support to non-profits with ideas for working toward solving problems. Past Impact Challenges have covered topics such as artificial intelligence and climate change.

 
YouTuber, actor and blogger Prajakta Koli &nbsp;a.k.a. MostlySane who has been an active advocate for women empowerment since many years now will be representing India in this ambitious global project. She will be joined by 28 other women leaders from diverse sectors and geographies such as artist Shakira, first US National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, athlete Naomi Osaka, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum as one of the expert panelists who will screen the applicants and help Google.org make the most informed funding decision. 
Each selected organization will receive between $300,000 and $2 million in funding as well as non-monetary support like mentorship from Google. The selected organizations will be announced in late 2021.

 
Having recently won an Emmy Award for 'Creators For Change’ documentary, Prajakta Koli reportedly said, “Google has always been such a cheerleader for creators like me. This is another such occasion where they have included me in a conversation that affects so many of us. It’s an absolute honour to be in a list that features such powerful global female leaders from around the world. I am very grateful to lend to a cause that advances equity for women and girls around the world and creates pathways to prosperity.”

Prajakta Koli, Indian digital content creator and actor, has joined the likes of Shakira, Naomi Osaka and others for Google's impact challege for women and girls, confirms the content creator.

Prajakta Koli, Indian digital content creator and actor, has joined the likes of Shakira, Naomi Osaka and others for Google's impact challege for women and girls, confirms the content creator. Google.org, the charitable arm of the amorphous search engine is committing $25 million in grants to non-profits addressing economic inequities faced by women and girls, as its next Google.org Impact Challenge. Impact Challenges are a way for Google to give money and support to non-profits with ideas for working toward solving problems. Past Impact Challenges have covered topics such as artificial intelligence and climate change. YouTuber, actor and blogger Prajakta Koli a.k.a. MostlySane who has been an active advocate for women empowerment since many years now will be representing India in this ambitious global project. She will be joined by 28 other women leaders from diverse sectors and geographies such as artist Shakira, first US National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, athlete Naomi Osaka, Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Rigoberta Menchú Tum as one of the expert panelists who will screen the applicants and help Google.org make the most informed funding decision. Each selected organization will receive between $300,000 and $2 million in funding as well as non-monetary support like mentorship from Google. The selected organizations will be announced in late 2021. Having recently won an Emmy Award for 'Creators For Change’ documentary, Prajakta Koli reportedly said, “Google has always been such a cheerleader for creators like me. This is another such occasion where they have included me in a conversation that affects so many of us. It’s an absolute honour to be in a list that features such powerful global female leaders from around the world. I am very grateful to lend to a cause that advances equity for women and girls around the world and creates pathways to prosperity.”

Prajakta Koli, Indian YouTuber, joins Shakira, Naomi Osaka for impact challenge for women

According to a YouTube spokesman, US Senator Rand Paul has been banned for seven days after releasing a video stating that masks are useless against COVID-19.&nbsp;

"This resulted in a first strike on the channel, which means it can't upload content for a week, per our longstanding three-strikes policy," the spokesperson said.&nbsp;

"We apply our policies consistently across the platform, regardless of the speaker or political views, and we make exceptions for videos that have additional context such as countervailing views from local health authorities."

Paul's tweet provided a link to a different site where the video could be seen.

According to YouTube, some of the problematic information in the video included the following line: "The majority of over-the-counter masks are ineffective. They don't keep you from being infected."&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the Kentucky Republican called the suspension a "badge of honour" and chastised YouTube for its decision.

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A badge of honor . . . leftwing cretins at Youtube banning me for 7 days for a video that quotes 2 peer reviewed articles saying cloth masks don’t work. 
 
If you want to see the banned video go to Liberty Tree <a href="https://t.co/gsTUwuLZGL">https://t.co/gsTUwuLZGL</a>
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1425210718568202243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"This type of restriction is a dangerous, terribly anti-free expression," Paul warned in a statement on his official website.&nbsp; 
 
Hospitalisations are at an all-time high in the last six months:&nbsp;

COVID-19 is on the rise in the United States this summer, as the more infectious delta variant spreads.

According to real-time statistics gathered by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering, COVID-19 has killed over 618,000 Americans and 4.3 million people globally.&nbsp;

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 58.8% of Americans aged 12 and above are completely vaccinated against COVID-19.&nbsp;

Hospital admissions in the United States have reached their highest level in six months.

Each day, around 9,300 people are being hospitalised, the largest number of patients seeking care since April.

COVID-19-related paediatric admissions per capita are likewise at an all-time high for the epidemic.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

According to a YouTube spokesman, US Senator Rand Paul has been banned for seven days after releasing a video stating that masks are useless against COVID-19. "This resulted in a first strike on the channel, which means it can't upload content for a week, per our longstanding three-strikes policy," the spokesperson said.

According to a YouTube spokesman, US Senator Rand Paul has been banned for seven days after releasing a video stating that masks are useless against COVID-19. "This resulted in a first strike on the channel, which means it can't upload content for a week, per our longstanding three-strikes policy," the spokesperson said. "We apply our policies consistently across the platform, regardless of the speaker or political views, and we make exceptions for videos that have additional context such as countervailing views from local health authorities." Paul's tweet provided a link to a different site where the video could be seen. According to YouTube, some of the problematic information in the video included the following line: "The majority of over-the-counter masks are ineffective. They don't keep you from being infected." On Tuesday, the Kentucky Republican called the suspension a "badge of honour" and chastised YouTube for its decision. A badge of honor . . . leftwing cretins at Youtube banning me for 7 days for a video that quotes 2 peer reviewed articles saying cloth masks don’t work. If you want to see the banned video go to Liberty Tree https://t.co/gsTUwuLZGL — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 10, 2021 × "This type of restriction is a dangerous, terribly anti-free expression," Paul warned in a statement on his official website. Hospitalisations are at an all-time high in the last six months: COVID-19 is on the rise in the United States this summer, as the more infectious delta variant spreads. According to real-time statistics gathered by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering, COVID-19 has killed over 618,000 Americans and 4.3 million people globally. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 58.8% of Americans aged 12 and above are completely vaccinated against COVID-19. Hospital admissions in the United States have reached their highest level in six months. Each day, around 9,300 people are being hospitalised, the largest number of patients seeking care since April. COVID-19-related paediatric admissions per capita are likewise at an all-time high for the epidemic. (With inputs from agencies)

YouTube suspends Republican Senator Rand Paul for 7 days over mask claims

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online. 
 
In order to create a safer online experience for children, Google has announced that anybody under the age of 18 or their parent or guardian will be able to request that their photos be removed from Google search results in the coming weeks.

Removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but "we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Google said in a statement late on Tuesday. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-to-check-icloud-photo-uploads-for-child-abuse-images-403391">Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images</a>

In a post on its blog website, Google said that, "While we already provide a range of removal options for people using Google Search, children are at particular risk when it comes to controlling their imagery on the internet. In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce a new policy that enables anyone under the age of 18, or their parent or guardian, to request the removal of their images from Google Image results. Of course, removing an image from search doesn’t remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online. " 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-lodges-more-cases-of-child-sexual-abuse-during-lockdown-311679">United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown</a>

The changes are similar to those made by Facebook last month, when it announced that Instagram accounts for children under the age of 16 would be turned private by default, requiring users to select whether or not to make their profiles public.

It also prohibited advertisements targeting children based on their hobbies or activities, but it did not prohibit targeting them based on age, gender, or geography.&nbsp;

Children's YouTube uploads will eventually default to the most private option.&nbsp;

"We're going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available (on YouTube) for teens ages 13-17," said the company. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/keyboard-predators-southeast-asias-kids-targeted-by-online-paedophiles-219432">Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles</a>

Over the next several months, Google will begin rolling out these improvements to all of its products throughout the world.

SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled, is currently available from Google and is turned on by default for any signed-in users under the age of 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online.

Parents, educators, child safety and privacy professionals, and policymakers are rightfully concerned about how to keep children and teenagers safe online as they spend more time online. In order to create a safer online experience for children, Google has announced that anybody under the age of 18 or their parent or guardian will be able to request that their photos be removed from Google search results in the coming weeks. Removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but "we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Google said in a statement late on Tuesday. Also read | Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images In a post on its blog website, Google said that, "While we already provide a range of removal options for people using Google Search, children are at particular risk when it comes to controlling their imagery on the internet. In the coming weeks, we’ll introduce a new policy that enables anyone under the age of 18, or their parent or guardian, to request the removal of their images from Google Image results. Of course, removing an image from search doesn’t remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online. " Also read | United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown The changes are similar to those made by Facebook last month, when it announced that Instagram accounts for children under the age of 16 would be turned private by default, requiring users to select whether or not to make their profiles public. It also prohibited advertisements targeting children based on their hobbies or activities, but it did not prohibit targeting them based on age, gender, or geography. Children's YouTube uploads will eventually default to the most private option. "We're going to change the default upload setting to the most private option available (on YouTube) for teens ages 13-17," said the company. Also read | Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles Over the next several months, Google will begin rolling out these improvements to all of its products throughout the world. SafeSearch, which helps filter out explicit results when enabled, is currently available from Google and is turned on by default for any signed-in users under the age of 13 who have accounts managed by Family Link. (With inputs from agencies)

Children and minors can now request Google to remove their images from Google Search

Google unveiled a set of measures Tuesday to keep children safe online, including a way for teens to upload videos in a private setting and a safeguard for ads shown to minors.

YouTube video platform, as well as Google's search and Google Assistant service, will be affected by the new features, announced amid increased concerns about child exploitation and online safety.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-to-check-icloud-photo-uploads-for-child-abuse-images-403391">Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images</a>

"As kids and teens spend more time online, parents, educators, child safety and privacy experts, and policy makers are rightly concerned about how to keep them safe," explains Mindy Brooks, product and user experience director at Google.

"We engage with these groups regularly, and share these concerns."

Now, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/google">Google's </a>"safe search" setting, which excludes sensitive content, will be enabled by default for under-18s.&nbsp;

In yet another measure to ensure kids' safety, Google will disable location history for its users under 18 globally, without adding the option to bring it back. Both of these were already in place for those under 13.

Google has also announced that&nbsp;on its massively popular platform YouTube, content from 13- to 17-year-olds will now be private by default.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-lodges-more-cases-of-child-sexual-abuse-during-lockdown-311679">United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown</a>

In a blog post James Beser, head of product management for YouTube Kids and Family, says that "With private uploads, content can only be seen by the user and whomever they choose,"

"We want to help younger users make informed decisions about their online footprint and digital privacy... If the user would like to make their content public, they can change the default upload visibility setting and we'll provide reminders indicating who can see their video."

The company will also make it easier for families to request that the images of their children are not included in image search results.

"Of course, removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Brooks said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/keyboard-predators-southeast-asias-kids-targeted-by-online-paedophiles-219432">Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles</a>

Google will also make changes to how it displays advertisements to minors, blocking any "age-sensitive" categories and prohibiting the targeting of people under the age of 18 based on their gender, age, and interests.

(With inputs from agencies)

Google unveiled a set of measures Tuesday to keep children safe online, including a way for teens to upload videos in a private setting and a safeguard for ads shown to minors.

Google unveiled a set of measures Tuesday to keep children safe online, including a way for teens to upload videos in a private setting and a safeguard for ads shown to minors. YouTube video platform, as well as Google's search and Google Assistant service, will be affected by the new features, announced amid increased concerns about child exploitation and online safety. Also read | Apple to check iCloud photo uploads for child abuse images "As kids and teens spend more time online, parents, educators, child safety and privacy experts, and policy makers are rightly concerned about how to keep them safe," explains Mindy Brooks, product and user experience director at Google. "We engage with these groups regularly, and share these concerns." Now, Google's "safe search" setting, which excludes sensitive content, will be enabled by default for under-18s. In yet another measure to ensure kids' safety, Google will disable location history for its users under 18 globally, without adding the option to bring it back. Both of these were already in place for those under 13. Google has also announced that on its massively popular platform YouTube, content from 13- to 17-year-olds will now be private by default. Also read | United Kingdom lodges more cases of child sexual abuse during lockdown In a blog post James Beser, head of product management for YouTube Kids and Family, says that "With private uploads, content can only be seen by the user and whomever they choose," "We want to help younger users make informed decisions about their online footprint and digital privacy... If the user would like to make their content public, they can change the default upload visibility setting and we'll provide reminders indicating who can see their video." The company will also make it easier for families to request that the images of their children are not included in image search results. "Of course, removing an image from search doesn't remove it from the web, but we believe this change will help give young people more control of their images online," Brooks said. Also read | Keyboard predators: Southeast Asia's kids targeted by online paedophiles Google will also make changes to how it displays advertisements to minors, blocking any "age-sensitive" categories and prohibiting the targeting of people under the age of 18 based on their gender, age, and interests. (With inputs from agencies)

Google and YouTube update their child safety features; Under-18s to be aggressively protected

A few weeks ago YouTube banned the channel of Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the online video platform as it alleged that the media house was posting misinformation about coronavirus.

Now, weeks later, Sky News Australia has quietly deleted more than 30 videos in which Covid-related concepts which were unproven were being discussed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/western-media-channel-banned-from-youtube-for-covid-misinformation-402200">Western media channel banned from YouTube for Covid misinformation</a>

This step was taken by the media house while its chief executive Paul Whittaker readies to appear for a Senate inquiry on Friday. The company will be facing the media diversity inquiry for the allegation of posting misinformation related to Covid, which led to the channel being blocked on YouTube for seven days.

In one of the most controversial videos, an anchor could be seen saying that the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is wrong about the importance of masks. He had also agreed with another pathologist that Covid is nothing but a hoax.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mythical-herd-immunity-not-possible-with-delta-variant-claims-scientist-404675" hreflang="en">'Mythical': Herd immunity not possible with Delta variant, claims scientist</a>

"Well there you are, as I have said all along, there is no epidemiological justification for any of this. Lockdowns, face masks, social distancing," Jones says in the video.

Meanwhile, YouTube has maintained that several of the uploaded videos violated the platform’s regulations. "We have clear and established&nbsp;Covid-19 medical misinformation policies&nbsp;based on local and global health authority guidance, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm," YouTube said.

A few weeks ago YouTube banned the channel of Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the online video platform as it alleged that the media house was posting misinformation about coronavirus.

A few weeks ago YouTube banned the channel of Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the online video platform as it alleged that the media house was posting misinformation about coronavirus. Now, weeks later, Sky News Australia has quietly deleted more than 30 videos in which Covid-related concepts which were unproven were being discussed. Also read | Western media channel banned from YouTube for Covid misinformation This step was taken by the media house while its chief executive Paul Whittaker readies to appear for a Senate inquiry on Friday. The company will be facing the media diversity inquiry for the allegation of posting misinformation related to Covid, which led to the channel being blocked on YouTube for seven days. In one of the most controversial videos, an anchor could be seen saying that the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews is wrong about the importance of masks. He had also agreed with another pathologist that Covid is nothing but a hoax. Also read | 'Mythical': Herd immunity not possible with Delta variant, claims scientist "Well there you are, as I have said all along, there is no epidemiological justification for any of this. Lockdowns, face masks, social distancing," Jones says in the video. Meanwhile, YouTube has maintained that several of the uploaded videos violated the platform’s regulations. "We have clear and established Covid-19 medical misinformation policies based on local and global health authority guidance, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm," YouTube said.

Western media group Sky News Australia deletes videos of Covid misinformation after YouTube bans channel

Online video platform, YouTube, has announced that it has banned Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the website for a week after it allegedly posted misinformation about coronavirus.

"We have clear and established&nbsp;Covid-19 medical misinformation policies... to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm,"&nbsp;a statement by YouTube read.

This ban comes after YouTube reviewed some posts that were uploaded by the channel on the platform. Some of the questioned posts included videos where it was questioned by the Sky News Australia group whether the coronavirus pandemic existed or not and if the said efficacy of the vaccines was real.

Have a look |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-china-is-interfering-with-youtube-activity-301401" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/how-china-is-interfering-with-youtube-activity-301401&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQkqL4x4_yAhXfyzgGHUG7A-gQFjAAegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3bbqpU9J2vjRXUAyYLqZi8" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-china-is-interfering-with-youtube-activity-301401" target="_blank">How China is interfering with&nbsp;YouTube&nbsp;activity</a>

In addition to these, YouTube videos of Sky News Australia also claimed that the lockdowns have been a failure, and also critiqued Sydney government for extending the ongoing lockdowns in the city.

These videos were widely circulated on different social media platforms which can&nbsp;reportedly, add&nbsp;to the existing vaccine hesitancy and also make people take coronavirus pandemic as a joke.

"We support broad discussion and debate on a wide range of topics and perspectives which is vital to any democracy," Sky News’s spokesperson said, confirming the temporary ban. "We take our commitment to meeting editorial and community expectations seriously."

YouTube has, for now, kept Sky News on the first strike punishment, The video platform follows a ‘three strikes’ policy with regard to violations. The first strike leads to a week’s suspension, the second strike within 90 days leads to a two-week ban and the third strike is permanent removal from YouTube.

Online video platform, YouTube, has announced that it has banned Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the website for a week after it allegedly posted misinformation about coronavirus.

Online video platform, YouTube, has announced that it has banned Sky News Australia from uploading any new content on the website for a week after it allegedly posted misinformation about coronavirus. "We have clear and established Covid-19 medical misinformation policies... to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm," a statement by YouTube read. This ban comes after YouTube reviewed some posts that were uploaded by the channel on the platform. Some of the questioned posts included videos where it was questioned by the Sky News Australia group whether the coronavirus pandemic existed or not and if the said efficacy of the vaccines was real. Have a look | How China is interfering with YouTube activity In addition to these, YouTube videos of Sky News Australia also claimed that the lockdowns have been a failure, and also critiqued Sydney government for extending the ongoing lockdowns in the city. These videos were widely circulated on different social media platforms which can reportedly, add to the existing vaccine hesitancy and also make people take coronavirus pandemic as a joke. "We support broad discussion and debate on a wide range of topics and perspectives which is vital to any democracy," Sky News’s spokesperson said, confirming the temporary ban. "We take our commitment to meeting editorial and community expectations seriously." YouTube has, for now, kept Sky News on the first strike punishment, The video platform follows a ‘three strikes’ policy with regard to violations. The first strike leads to a week’s suspension, the second strike within 90 days leads to a two-week ban and the third strike is permanent removal from YouTube.

Western media channel banned from YouTube for Covid misinformation

We all have our fields of mastery. We may or may not have a degree in it but there are some areas in which we are so confident that we debate with ANYONE to prove our point. And then there comes a day when someone beats us at our own game.

A similar thing happened when a Youtuber won a 10,000 dollar bet with a physicist over an argument that involved laws of physics.

Derek Muller boasts of more than 9 million followers on his Youtube channel. In his videos, Muller breaks down scientific concepts in a fun manner for his viewers.

In May, he posted a video on Blackbird, a land yacht that runs on wind power.&nbsp;

The Blackbird has been made by an aerospace engineer. Intriguing thing about Blackbird is that it runs faster than wind speed when travelling downwind.

Now this is counterintuitive. How can a vehicle running on wind power run faster than wind when the wind is flowing in the same direction? But Blackbird apparently does.

Enter Alexander Kusenko, a physicist and a professor at UCLA. He contacted Muller and said that he was taken in by bad science and the claim cannot be true.

So confident was Muller about the Blackbird that he bet USD 10,000 over the claim. He never thought he would hear back from Kusenko. But to his surprise, Kusenko actually sent him documents of the bet.&nbsp;

The stage was set!

There were scientific arguments and counter-arguments from both sides. This went on for weeks after which Muller decided to conduct an actual field test.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
In the interests of providing more data, I've uploaded the raw clip of the faster-than-the-wind run for <a href="https://twitter.com/alexkusenko?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alexkusenko</a> <a href="https://t.co/eUeoYSiDeI">https://t.co/eUeoYSiDeI</a> 
 
Note: the filming team uses expletives towards the end because they don't think I'm going to slow down. Viewer discretion advised. <a href="https://t.co/rv5p3e8oHJ">pic.twitter.com/rv5p3e8oHJ</a>
— Derek Muller (@veritasium) <a href="https://twitter.com/veritasium/status/1406895451601707012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

He drove the Blackbird on El Mirage lake bed in Arizona. It was found that the vehicle travelled at 45 km/hr when wind was flowing at 16 km/hr in the same direction. And the increased speed was not due to sporadic gust winds as the vehicle held the speed for two minutes.

So did he get the money?

"Kusenko coughed up the 10 grand, let's leave it at that," Muller was quoted as saying by ScienceAlert.

We all have our fields of mastery. We may or may not have a degree in it but there are some areas in which we are so confident that we debate with ANYONE to prove our point.

We all have our fields of mastery. We may or may not have a degree in it but there are some areas in which we are so confident that we debate with ANYONE to prove our point. And then there comes a day when someone beats us at our own game. A similar thing happened when a Youtuber won a 10,000 dollar bet with a physicist over an argument that involved laws of physics. Derek Muller boasts of more than 9 million followers on his Youtube channel. In his videos, Muller breaks down scientific concepts in a fun manner for his viewers. In May, he posted a video on Blackbird, a land yacht that runs on wind power. The Blackbird has been made by an aerospace engineer. Intriguing thing about Blackbird is that it runs faster than wind speed when travelling downwind. Now this is counterintuitive. How can a vehicle running on wind power run faster than wind when the wind is flowing in the same direction? But Blackbird apparently does. Enter Alexander Kusenko, a physicist and a professor at UCLA. He contacted Muller and said that he was taken in by bad science and the claim cannot be true. So confident was Muller about the Blackbird that he bet USD 10,000 over the claim. He never thought he would hear back from Kusenko. But to his surprise, Kusenko actually sent him documents of the bet. The stage was set! There were scientific arguments and counter-arguments from both sides. This went on for weeks after which Muller decided to conduct an actual field test. In the interests of providing more data, I've uploaded the raw clip of the faster-than-the-wind run for @alexkusenko https://t.co/eUeoYSiDeI Note: the filming team uses expletives towards the end because they don't think I'm going to slow down. Viewer discretion advised. pic.twitter.com/rv5p3e8oHJ — Derek Muller (@veritasium) June 21, 2021 × He drove the Blackbird on El Mirage lake bed in Arizona. It was found that the vehicle travelled at 45 km/hr when wind was flowing at 16 km/hr in the same direction. And the increased speed was not due to sporadic gust winds as the vehicle held the speed for two minutes. So did he get the money? "Kusenko coughed up the 10 grand, let's leave it at that," Muller was quoted as saying by ScienceAlert.

Youtuber wins USD 10K bet with scientist over physics problem

Social media giant Facebook will pay&nbsp;the creators of popular posts, from fashionistas to comedians and video gamers, $1 billion&nbsp;through 2022.

It is the strongest signal yet that Facebook now recognises the strategic importance of the "creator economy".&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-joe-biden-lashes-out-at-facebook-over-vaccine-misinformation-399119/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat have waged an increasingly fierce battle to attract figures with big followings that can in turn attract serious advertising revenues.&nbsp;

Last November, photo and video app Snapchat began paying $1 million a day to top creators, although the payments have since tapered off. Popular YouTubers have been receiving a slice of the site's billions in ad revenues since 2007.&nbsp;

Facebook has been comparatively slow on the uptake. While the site began paying popular video-makers in 2017, most vloggers have found YouTube to be far more lucrative.&nbsp;

Facebook-owned Instagram has meanwhile launched the careers of many a food blogger and fashion influencer, but the app only began sharing its advertising income directly with them last year.

Traditionally, the bulk of Insta-celebrities' earnings has come through product endorsement deals negotiated directly with brands.&nbsp;

Late to the influencer party

Joe Gagliese, co-founder of international influencer agency Viral Nation, said it was not surprising that Facebook's efforts had lagged behind competitors'.

Founded in 2004, Facebook had already built a hugely lucrative advertising business by the time the phenomenon of full-time internet celebrities emerged at the end of the decade. Courting influencers wasn't crucial to its "primary business", Gagliese said.&nbsp;

But as creators have headed elsewhere, their predominantly young followings have followed, contributing to a sense that Facebook, in the eyes of Gen Z, has become an irredeemably uncool website where their parents hang out.&nbsp;

Facebook's user base is indeed ageing. The proportion of over-65s has shot up roughly a quarter over the past year, almost double the average, according to the Digital 2021 report from media companies We Are Social and Hootsuite.&nbsp;

In the meantime, Chinese-owned TikTok was the world's most downloaded app in the first half of 2021.

It has largely replaced Facebook as the driver of international social media crazes,&nbsp;not least during the pandemic, as bored millions have turned to its dance videos and cooking trends for light relief.&nbsp;

In this context, Facebook's $1 billion gambit is being seen partly as an attempt to regain cultural relevance and stem the youth exodus.&nbsp;

"The only way for these platforms to keep their relevance with younger generations is to understand what resonates with them and keep up with the pace of innovation," said Claudia Cameron, head of marketing and insights at Amsterdam-based influencer agency IMA.

"Creators are a very important part of this equation, as they set the tone for what's cool."

A drop in the ocean?&nbsp;

While young users from Iran to Brazil have been flocking elsewhere, industry insiders say it is far too early to regard Facebook as doomed.&nbsp;

"You can't underestimate them, because they are so powerful when it comes to the tech," said Gagliese.&nbsp;

Facebook's vast income,&nbsp;it raked in $84.2 billion in advertising revenues last year, more than the GDP of some countries,&nbsp;gives it huge funds with which to innovate.&nbsp;

It is also, despite its relative loss of street cred, still growing, with 2.8 billion monthly users worldwide.&nbsp;

Gagliese suggested Facebook should be spending far more on its efforts to lure internet stars from other platforms.&nbsp;

"Unless Facebook leans in really hard,&nbsp;I'm talking, 'way more than a billion dollars' hard,&nbsp;it's going to be very hard for them to attract all these new creators," he said.&nbsp;

Facebook has yet to outline detailed plans for the $1 billion, but Cameron pointed out that a large chunk will likely be distributed via Instagram, which still enjoys a "cool" factor.

That would be good news for TikTok comedian Mwas, who also has a sizeable following there.&nbsp;

"I'm taking a wait-and-see approach," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Social media giant Facebook will pay the creators of popular posts, from fashionistas to comedians and video gamers, $1 billion through 2022. It is the strongest signal yet that Facebook now recognises the strategic importance of the "creator economy".

Social media giant Facebook will pay the creators of popular posts, from fashionistas to comedians and video gamers, $1 billion through 2022. It is the strongest signal yet that Facebook now recognises the strategic importance of the "creator economy". YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat have waged an increasingly fierce battle to attract figures with big followings that can in turn attract serious advertising revenues. Last November, photo and video app Snapchat began paying $1 million a day to top creators, although the payments have since tapered off. Popular YouTubers have been receiving a slice of the site's billions in ad revenues since 2007. Facebook has been comparatively slow on the uptake. While the site began paying popular video-makers in 2017, most vloggers have found YouTube to be far more lucrative. Facebook-owned Instagram has meanwhile launched the careers of many a food blogger and fashion influencer, but the app only began sharing its advertising income directly with them last year. Traditionally, the bulk of Insta-celebrities' earnings has come through product endorsement deals negotiated directly with brands. Late to the influencer party Joe Gagliese, co-founder of international influencer agency Viral Nation, said it was not surprising that Facebook's efforts had lagged behind competitors'. Founded in 2004, Facebook had already built a hugely lucrative advertising business by the time the phenomenon of full-time internet celebrities emerged at the end of the decade. Courting influencers wasn't crucial to its "primary business", Gagliese said. But as creators have headed elsewhere, their predominantly young followings have followed, contributing to a sense that Facebook, in the eyes of Gen Z, has become an irredeemably uncool website where their parents hang out. Facebook's user base is indeed ageing. The proportion of over-65s has shot up roughly a quarter over the past year, almost double the average, according to the Digital 2021 report from media companies We Are Social and Hootsuite. In the meantime, Chinese-owned TikTok was the world's most downloaded app in the first half of 2021. It has largely replaced Facebook as the driver of international social media crazes, not least during the pandemic, as bored millions have turned to its dance videos and cooking trends for light relief. In this context, Facebook's $1 billion gambit is being seen partly as an attempt to regain cultural relevance and stem the youth exodus. "The only way for these platforms to keep their relevance with younger generations is to understand what resonates with them and keep up with the pace of innovation," said Claudia Cameron, head of marketing and insights at Amsterdam-based influencer agency IMA. "Creators are a very important part of this equation, as they set the tone for what's cool." A drop in the ocean? While young users from Iran to Brazil have been flocking elsewhere, industry insiders say it is far too early to regard Facebook as doomed. "You can't underestimate them, because they are so powerful when it comes to the tech," said Gagliese. Facebook's vast income, it raked in $84.2 billion in advertising revenues last year, more than the GDP of some countries, gives it huge funds with which to innovate. It is also, despite its relative loss of street cred, still growing, with 2.8 billion monthly users worldwide. Gagliese suggested Facebook should be spending far more on its efforts to lure internet stars from other platforms. "Unless Facebook leans in really hard, I'm talking, 'way more than a billion dollars' hard, it's going to be very hard for them to attract all these new creators," he said. Facebook has yet to outline detailed plans for the $1 billion, but Cameron pointed out that a large chunk will likely be distributed via Instagram, which still enjoys a "cool" factor. That would be good news for TikTok comedian Mwas, who also has a sizeable following there. "I'm taking a wait-and-see approach," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

What is Facebook's $1 billion gamble to regain lost users?

YouTube said on Wednesday it had removed videos from Brazilian President Jair&nbsp;Bolsonaro's channel for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, becoming the latest tech giant to pull his pandemic pronouncements.

YouTube said in a press release the decision was taken "after careful review" and without consideration for&nbsp;Bolsonaro's job or political ideology. The far-right former army captain, who has overseen the world's second deadliest outbreak, has won widespread criticism for railing against lockdowns, touting unproven miracle cures, sowing vaccine doubts and shunning masks.

"Our rules do not allow content that states that hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin are effective in treating or preventing COVID-19, that states there is a cure for the disease, or says that masks do not work to prevent the spread of the virus," it said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-discharged-from-hospital-after-successful-treatment-for-hiccups-398912">Also read |&nbsp;Brazil President, Jair Bolsonaro, discharged from hospital after successful treatment for hiccups</a>

The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last year, both Twitter and Facebook took down videos of&nbsp;Bolsonaro&nbsp;for breaching their terms of use after he made pronouncements that went against the recommendations of global public health experts.

Bolsonaro's YouTube channel plays host to his weekly national addresses, which are folksy, musical events in which he invites on ministers, takes questions from viewers and blasts his enemies.

During the chats, which also go out on his Facebook page, he regularly expounds on his doubts about the severity of the virus, the foolishness of stay-at-home measures and the wonders of unproven drugs like hydroxychloroquine.

YouTube said on Wednesday it had removed videos from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's channel for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, becoming the latest tech giant to pull his pandemic pronouncements.

YouTube said on Wednesday it had removed videos from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's channel for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus outbreak, becoming the latest tech giant to pull his pandemic pronouncements. YouTube said in a press release the decision was taken "after careful review" and without consideration for Bolsonaro's job or political ideology. The far-right former army captain, who has overseen the world's second deadliest outbreak, has won widespread criticism for railing against lockdowns, touting unproven miracle cures, sowing vaccine doubts and shunning masks. "Our rules do not allow content that states that hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin are effective in treating or preventing COVID-19, that states there is a cure for the disease, or says that masks do not work to prevent the spread of the virus," it said in a statement. Also read | Brazil President, Jair Bolsonaro, discharged from hospital after successful treatment for hiccups The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last year, both Twitter and Facebook took down videos of Bolsonaro for breaching their terms of use after he made pronouncements that went against the recommendations of global public health experts. Bolsonaro's YouTube channel plays host to his weekly national addresses, which are folksy, musical events in which he invites on ministers, takes questions from viewers and blasts his enemies. During the chats, which also go out on his Facebook page, he regularly expounds on his doubts about the severity of the virus, the foolishness of stay-at-home measures and the wonders of unproven drugs like hydroxychloroquine.

YouTube says it pulled Bolsonaro videos for COVID-19 misinformation

India restricted the entry of New Zealand YouTuber Karl Edward Rice, also known as Karl Rock after he was found indulging in several visa violations, which includes participating in the anti-CAA protests in the country and also hurting religious sentiments through his YouTube video.

India restricted the entry of New Zealand YouTuber Karl Edward Rice, also known as Karl Rock after he was found indulging in several visa violations, which includes participating in the anti-CAA protests in the country and also hurting religious sentiments through his YouTube video. He was blacklisted. Ministry of home affairs officials stated that he was a "habitual offender" and in the past, he has been to various restricted areas in India, including Nagaland and Jammu and Kashmir without taking permission. He made several videos. Earlier, he had a tourist visa, but it got converted to an X2 visa after his marriage to an Indian national. Under an X2 visa, foreign nationals are not supposed to indulge in business activity. However, Karl violated this as he created content on YouTube to get monetary benefits. From 2016 to 2018, he had a tourist visa. Another tourist visa was issued from 2018 to 2023. In the year 2019, he was given an X2. Also read | India hands holy relic of St. Queen Ketevan to Georgia He published the book "Indian Survival Guided", which again, is not allowed on Tourist Visa. He also visited restricted areas and covered CAA protests on Youtube which is barred on an X2 visa. One of his videos, "Do Indians eat beef? guide to eating beef in India", was seen as a major concern. MHA officials say, "Karl Edward Rice, has been restricted from entering India till next year, due to violating the terms and conditions of his visa. He was found doing business activities, on a tourist visa and also violating certain other visa conditions". On Friday, July 9, he uploaded a video in which he said "Govt of India has stopped me from returning to India" and "separating me from my wife and family". Karl is a popular YouTuber who makes videos about travel, especially in India, and speaks Hindi. Last year, he donated plasma amid the COVID-19 pandemic drawing praise from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He is married to Manisha Malik since April 2019.

New Zealand YouTuber Karl Rock restricted from entering India over visa violations

Europe's top court on Tuesday said that Google's YouTube and other online platforms are not liable for copyright-infringing works uploaded by users onto their platforms under certain conditions. 
 
The case marks the latest development in a long-running battle between Europe's $1 trillion creative industry and online platforms, with the former seeking compensation or action from the latter for unauthorised works that are uploaded. 
 
YouTube found itself in the dock after Frank Peterson, a music producer, sued the company and Google in Germany over the uploading to YouTube by users in 2008 of several phonograms to which he holds the rights. 
 
In a second case, publishing group Elsevier took legal action against file-hosting service Cyando in Germany after its users uploaded several Elsevier works on its platform Uploaded in 2013 without its approval. 
 
A German court subsequently sought advice from the EU Court of Justice, which ruled on both cases on Tuesday. 
 
"As currently stands, operators of online platforms do not, in principle, themselves make a communication to the public of copyright-protected content illegally posted online by users of those platforms," the EU Court of Justice said. 
 
"However, those operators do make such a communication in breach of copyright where they contribute, beyond merely making those platforms available, to giving access to such content to the public," judges said. 
 
The cases are C-682/18 YouTube and C-683/18 Cyando.

Europe's top court on Tuesday said that Google's YouTube and other online platforms are not liable for copyright-infringing works uploaded by users onto their platforms under certain conditions.

Europe's top court on Tuesday said that Google's YouTube and other online platforms are not liable for copyright-infringing works uploaded by users onto their platforms under certain conditions. The case marks the latest development in a long-running battle between Europe's $1 trillion creative industry and online platforms, with the former seeking compensation or action from the latter for unauthorised works that are uploaded. YouTube found itself in the dock after Frank Peterson, a music producer, sued the company and Google in Germany over the uploading to YouTube by users in 2008 of several phonograms to which he holds the rights. In a second case, publishing group Elsevier took legal action against file-hosting service Cyando in Germany after its users uploaded several Elsevier works on its platform Uploaded in 2013 without its approval. A German court subsequently sought advice from the EU Court of Justice, which ruled on both cases on Tuesday. "As currently stands, operators of online platforms do not, in principle, themselves make a communication to the public of copyright-protected content illegally posted online by users of those platforms," the EU Court of Justice said. "However, those operators do make such a communication in breach of copyright where they contribute, beyond merely making those platforms available, to giving access to such content to the public," judges said. The cases are C-682/18 YouTube and C-683/18 Cyando.

EU top court hands win to YouTube in user copyright fight

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