logo

Google Refuses to Take Down Inflammatory YouTube Video

image
Created: 17 September, 2012
Updated: 17 October, 2022
2 min read
Photo: Wikimedia Foundation / Author: Mohamed CJ

A wave of violent riots has spread throughout the Middle East, from Libya to Afghanistan, incited by an inflammatory YouTube video about Islam. After the death of a US ambassador in Libya, the White House reached out to Google, YouTube's parent company, to review the video and remove it for offensive content. Google responded Friday that it would not be removing the video from YouTube, as it felt the video did not violate its terms of service.

YouTube released a statement regarding the video, titled "The Innocence of Muslims":

"We work hard to create a community everyone can enjoy and which also enables people to express different opinions. This can be a challenge because what's OK in one country can be offensive elsewhere. This video — which is widely available on the Web — is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube."

Google's controversial decision sparked a debate about the limits between free speech and safety. The video has been directly blamed for the violent rioting spreading throughout the Middle East that has killed a number of people, some of them American citizens. However, Google feels that the video, while distasteful, is within its submission guidelines. Google is supporting the right of free speech of the filmmaker, while the White House is more concerned with the safety of Americans and innocents abroad.

The debate has continued among news outlets and online communities. Those who support Google's decision cite the First Amendment as their reason. The video is extremely offensive, but does not use racial slurs or inappropriate imagery. Some agree with its message, but most simply respect the right of the filmmaker to express his differing opinion.

Those who support the removal of the video are divided into two camps: those who feel the video is excessively offensive, and those who feel that the video endangers innocents who become casualties of the riots. The video depicts Muhammad, a prophet of Islam, as a pedophile and a womanizer. Many feel the video debases and defames a religious figure in such a way that makes it removable under YouTube's submission guidelines. Others believe that the video itself is a security risk, and should be removed to preserve peace in the Middle East and other Islamic nations.

The reaction to the video took a serious turn last week when US Ambassador J Christopher Stevens was killed during a riot in Benghazi, Libya. The White House has not yet responded to Google's statement or decision regarding the video.

Latest articles

votes
Wyoming Purges Nearly 30% of Its Voters from Registration Rolls
It is not uncommon for a state to clean out its voter rolls every couple of years -- especially to r...
27 March, 2024
-
1 min read
ballot box
The Next Big Win in Better Election Reform Could Come Where Voters Least Expect
Idaho isn't a state that gets much attention when people talk about politics in the US. However, this could change in 2024 if Idahoans for Open Primaries and their allies are successful with their proposed initiative....
21 March, 2024
-
3 min read
Courts
Why Do We Accept Partisanship in Judicial Elections?
The AP headline reads, "Ohio primary: Open seat on state supreme court could flip partisan control." This immediately should raise a red flag for voters, and not because of who may benefit but over a question too often ignored....
19 March, 2024
-
9 min read
Nick Troiano
Virtual Discussion: The Primary Solution with Unite America's Nick Troiano
In the latest virtual discussion from Open Primaries, the group's president, John Opdycke, sat down ...
19 March, 2024
-
1 min read
Sinema
Sinema's Exit Could Be Bad News for Democrats -- Here's Why
To many, the 2024 presidential primary has been like the movie Titanic - overly long and ending in a disaster we all saw coming from the start. After months of campaigning and five televised primary debates, Americans are now faced with a rematch between two candidates polling shows a majority of them didn’t want....
19 March, 2024
-
7 min read