YouTube cracks down on hateful videos just days after IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's warning to digital platforms

YouTube has tightened its policies around hateful videos on its platform just days after IT Minister Ravi Shankar Pras warned against misuse of digital platforms in India. In an attempt to protect platform from being used to incite hatred, harassment, discrimination and violence, YouTube has w taken a very strong stance against supremacist content. YouTube said this would include videos that promote or glorify Nazi ideology. This is what YouTube has to say in its official blog post:

"Today, we're taking ar step in our hate speech policy by specifically prohibiting videos alleging that a group is superior in order to justify discrimination, segregation or exclusion based on qualities like , , race, caste, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status," YouTube said in a blog post.

latest move assumes importance as digital platforms and social media companies have come under increased global scrutiny on pressing issues like hate content, fake news and data privacy. India has also taken a tough stance on se burning issues.

Earlier this week, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Pras h warned that misuse of digital platforms will t be tolerated in India. India's IT Ministry has alrey started working on tightening policies for social media and Internet companies.

YouTube said that it has been investing in policies, resources and products needed to safeguard YouTube community from hateful videos.

RE | 5G in India soon: Field trials of 5G to begin in 100 days, says Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Pras

"In 2017, we introduced a tougher stance towards videos with supremacist content, including limiting recommendations and features like comments and ability to share video," it said, ding that step dramatically reduced views to se videos, on aver 80 per cent.

YouTube said it will implement new policies starting Thursday. However, it will take time for systems to fully ramp up. YouTube will eventually increase cover over next several months.

"We recognize some of this content has value to researchers and NGOs looking to understand hate in order to combat it, and we are exploring options to make it available to m in future. And as always, context matters, so some videos could remain up because y discuss topics like pending legislation, aim to condemn or expose hate, or provide analysis of current events," it ded.

YouTube ted it is critical that monetisation systems reward trusted creators who d value to platform.

RE | YouTube to ban 'hateful,' 'supremacist' videos after protest by Google employees, progenitor of furore hits out

"We have longstanding vertiser-friendly guidelines that prohibit s from running on videos that include hateful content and we enforce se rigorously...In case of hate speech, we are strengning enforcement of our existing YouTube partner program policies," it ded.

According to YouTube, channels that repeatedly brush up against its hate speech policies will be suspended from YouTube's Partner program. Meaning, y cant run Paid s on ir channel or use or monetisation features like SuperChat.

(With ncy inputs)