KGUN 9NewsLocal News

Actions

YouTube fights "fake news" by removing thousands of videos

Posted at 7:55 AM, Jul 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-10 11:02:54-04

We all know you can't always trust what you read and see on the internet, but fear not, what you're about to read is safe. 

Right now, YouTube is committing $25 million in grants to fight against the so-called fake news that's been floating around just about everywhere online.

Part of the grant will be used to develop new features aimed at supporting news organizations, and also fund outlets across 20 global markets.

The Google-owned company will make it easier for viewers to find "Breaking News" from reputable news sources, along with a reminder that facts can change when stories are developing. 

This is part of a larger self-imposed crackdown.

Since last November, YouTube has been in the process of removing more than 150,000 videos that were inappropriately aimed at children. The website also banned videos showing how to make guns in March.

The crackdown is also targeting conspiracy theories.YouTube will now display information from third-party sources like Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica next to videos about, quote “well-established historical and scientific topics that have often been subject to misinformation.”

Some conspiracy videos about the Oklahoma City bombing and the moon landing are some prime examples.