YouTube accused of profiting from anti-Muslim content despite policy violations
YouTube is facing criticism for reportedly profiting from content promoting anti-Muslim sentiments on its platform, despite having guidelines that prohibit such material. Channels like Sudarshan TV have allegedly been permitted to broadcast divisive content that targets Muslims, attracting advertisements from prominent brands and resulting in YouTube profiting indirectly from these narratives.
Through its Super Chat feature, which allows users to pay for highlighted messages during live streams, individuals sharing Hindutva ideology have been able to spread inflammatory messages. In a recent incident, popular creator Ajeet Bharti hosted a stream alleging a "Muslim conspiracy" involving "love jihad." During the stream, a viewer reportedly paid to post a message about forming a violent group, which violated YouTube’s policies on dangerous content but remained visible on the platform despite multiple reports.
Bharti allegedly earned Rs 2,100 in one stream and Rs 14,000 in another for similar content, benefiting from YouTube’s revenue-sharing model, where creators retain 70% of Super Chat earnings. This has raised concerns over the platform’s role in monetising hate speech. Critics point to YouTube's lack of transparency in enforcing its policies, especially around high-profile Super Chats, and question its effectiveness in moderating harmful content.
Research shows that nearly half of India’s population relies on social media for news, with 54% using YouTube as a primary source.
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Vinod Tawde seeks apology from Kharge, Rahul through legal notice, warns of defamation lawsuit
Cash-for-vote row
New Delhi, Nov 22: BJP leader Vinod Tawde has demanded an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for making "false and baseless" allegations against him in the cash-for-votes incident in Maharashtra, saying if they don't he would sue them for defamation.
Tawde was accused by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, a regional party, of distributing Rs 5 crore to woo voters, with its members barging into a hotel room on November 19 in a Mumbai suburb, where the BJP leader was present.
The former Maharashtra minister and BJP national general secretary claimed innocence, saying the alleged amount was not recovered in the probe by the Election Commission and police.
"The Congress only believes in spreading lies, and this incident is a proof of the party's low level politics to dent me and my party's image," Tawde said.
The two Congress leaders and the party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate seized on the row to accuse the BJP of using money power to influence the November 20 assembly polls in the state.
The legal notice sent to the three claimed that they were aware that they were pushing a "totally false story fabricated" by them.
"You all have deliberately, mischievously with the sole intention of damaging the reputation of our client intentionally fabricated the story distribution of money. You all have published false, baseless allegations against our client on various media for tarnishing his image in the eyes of right thinking people in the society," the notice read.
The Congress leaders were in a "great hurry" to damage Tawde's reputation, they did not bother to check the fact and or despite knowing the entire fact they made the false, baseless allegations, it said.
"The entire imputation made by you all are totally false, baseless, malicious and mala fide and as our client is in no way involved in any such illegal activity and as a responsible office bearer of the national political party he is aware of his duties," it added.
The notice demanded an "unconditional apology" to Tawde within 24 hours from the time the receipt of the notice, which was sent on November 21, and published in newspapers and X.
If they do not offer apology, then Tawde will initiate criminal proceedings under Section 356, which covers defamation, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and also civil proceedings for the damages of Rs 100 crore against the three Congress leaders, the notice said.
