Netizens urge YouTube to ban Chinese media sponsored ads spreading misinformation about Hong Kong protesters

Several users on Twitter and Reddit posted screenshots of YouTube advertisements spreading misinformation about Hong Kong protesters.

CCTV, the state run media of China is now placing ads on youtube, advocating its #chinazi ideaology and propaganda in the free world media.

WTF @YouTube ? Is it really appropriate?#BoycottChina pic.twitter.com/8o1VUPCCQ1

— wowtkwow (@tktrololo) August 21, 2019

Getting served midroll CCTV ads on YouTube about how Hong Kongers love the motherland: pic.twitter.com/Kd3i3hihoJ

— ????? ????????? ????????? (@jgriffiths) August 9, 2019

Pretty ironic that cctv (news media that is manipulated by the CCP) posted ads on youtube when the CCP actually blocked @YouTube in China#chiNAZI
Not sure how the ads system works but hope @YouTube actually reviews the content of the ads.
Spreading hatred is definitely not okay pic.twitter.com/C52g6dAzkd

— Lam (@Lam14218656) August 20, 2019

One such post showed a screenshot of a YouTube advertisement from China Central Television (CCTV), a state-owned media channel. The Chinese advertisements show support for Hong Kong police but paint protesters as riotous and violent “terrorists.”

Most of the YouTube videos getting the ads are not even about the protests in Hong Kong or any other political topic related to China.

Google, which owns YouTube, disallows content and ads that “mislead” the product of organisation it is talking about.

According to Google’s policies:

“We strive to ensure ads are clear and honest, and provide the information that users need to make informed decisions. We don’t allow ads or destinations that intend to deceive users by excluding relevant information or giving misleading information about products, services, or businesses.”

Netizens shame YouTube for allegedly profiting from misinformation through such advertisements. They urge YouTube to ban the promotion of state-sponsored media ads from CCTV.

As previously reported by The Independent SG, Twitter recently announced that it will no longer be accepting ads from state media like CCTV following accusations that the channel has been sowing discord and spreading misinformation about the Hong Kong protests.

We're disclosing coordinated account activity focused on the ongoing protest movement in Hong Kong. Our investigations have found that these accounts are linked to state-backed information operations from mainland China.https://t.co/Pc9R90Dp85

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) August 19, 2019

Earlier this year, YouTube began rolling out videos that provide notices informing viewers that the video they are watching is funded by government entities.

Currently, YouTube has not addressed the Chinese media advertisements on the platform yet./TISG

YouTube allegedly alerts users that “Mediacorp is funded in whole or in part by the Singapore Government”