Google's secret blocklist fails to block many hate terms on YouTube ads
The Markup investigated Google's secret blocklist that hides YouTube hate videos from advertisers. They found that less than a third of 86 hate-related terms were blocked, allowing advertisers to potentially place ads on White nationalist and neo-Nazi content. Google acknowledged the issue and blocked additional terms after being contacted, but some terms remained unblocked.
- Date it happened
- 2020-11-20
- Organisation involved
- Product, system or model
- Google Ads blocklist
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This is a record of what was reported, not a finding that anyone broke the law. If it names your organisation and you believe it is wrong, the corrections process is free and open to everyone.