Group Urges YouTube to Fight Misinformation
2022-01-16
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1A group of fact-checking organizations has called on YouTube to do more to fight misinformation on the video service.
2More than 80 organizations worldwide published an open letter to YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki.
3In it, they accused YouTube of being "one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation worldwide."
4YouTube is owned by Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google.
5The groups said YouTube's leadership could do much more to reduce the spread of false information.
6"What we do not see is much effort by YouTube to implement policies that address the problem," the letter states.
7By not taking effective action, the video service is permitting itself "to be weaponized" by individuals seeking to "manipulate and exploit" others, the letter adds.
8The fact-checking organizations offered to assist YouTube in fighting against the publication of false information.
9They said they are especially equipped to help because of their experience with fact-checking news stories and fighting misinformation around the world.
10They are all members of the International Fact Checking Network.
11The groups said that presenting fact-checked information to people is more effective than simply removing false content.
12The letter said the problem is especially difficult in non-English speaking nations and in the southern half of the world.
13The groups urged YouTube to center on providing context and fact-checked information that can clearly be seen on videos.
14They also called on YouTube to act against repeat violators and to strengthen efforts to fight misinformation in languages other than English.
15In a statement, YouTube spokesperson Elena Hernandez defended the company's policies.
16She said YouTube spends a lot on such efforts around the world and seeks to connect people to "authoritative content."
17Hernandez called fact-checking an important tool "to help viewers make their own informed decisions" about what they are watching.
18But she added that such efforts are just "one piece of a much larger puzzle" that seeks to limit the spread of misinformation.
19I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A group of fact-checking organizations has called on YouTube to do more to fight misinformation on the video service. 2More than 80 organizations worldwide published an open letter to YouTube chief Susan Wojcicki. In it, they accused YouTube of being "one of the major conduits of online disinformation and misinformation worldwide." YouTube is owned by Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. 3The groups said YouTube's leadership could do much more to reduce the spread of false information. "What we do not see is much effort by YouTube to implement policies that address the problem," the letter states. 4By not taking effective action, the video service is permitting itself "to be weaponized" by individuals seeking to "manipulate and exploit" others, the letter adds. 5The fact-checking organizations offered to assist YouTube in fighting against the publication of false information. They said they are especially equipped to help because of their experience with fact-checking news stories and fighting misinformation around the world. They are all members of the International Fact Checking Network. 6The groups said that presenting fact-checked information to people is more effective than simply removing false content. 7The letter said the problem is especially difficult in non-English speaking nations and in the southern half of the world. 8The groups urged YouTube to center on providing context and fact-checked information that can clearly be seen on videos. They also called on YouTube to act against repeat violators and to strengthen efforts to fight misinformation in languages other than English. 9In a statement, YouTube spokesperson Elena Hernandez defended the company's policies. She said YouTube spends a lot on such efforts around the world and seeks to connect people to "authoritative content." 10Hernandez called fact-checking an important tool "to help viewers make their own informed decisions" about what they are watching. But she added that such efforts are just "one piece of a much larger puzzle" that seeks to limit the spread of misinformation. 11I'm Bryan Lynn. 12The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 13We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 14___________________________________________________ 15Words in This Story 16check - v. to examine something in order to make sure that it is correct or the way it should be 17conduit - n. a way of connecting two places or things 18implement - v. put something into action 19manipulate - v. control something or someone to your advantage, often unfairly or dishonestly 20exploit - v. to use (someone or something) in a way that helps you unfairly 21context - n. all the facts, opinions, situations, etc. relating to a particular thing or event 22authoritative -adj. having or showing impressive knowledge about a subject 23puzzle - n. a game in which you arrange separate pieces together in a way that makes them all fit together