YouTube blocks a video...on left wing censorship: Site's algorithm blacklists educational footage

The video was part of the PragerU series of educational videos
YouTube placed it in 'restricted mode' after being flagged
This means that students can't view the video in schools or libraries
PragerU started a petition and YouTube has now removed the restriction

Published: 06:39 EST, 2 November 2016 | Updated: 07:41 EST, 2 November 2016

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Last month, YouTube was accused of censorship after it emerged it has been removing the ability for users to make money from their videos if they express politically incorrect or offensive views.

And the latest video to fall victim to the site's new censorship rules is, ironically, one on left wing censorship.

The video, titled 'The Dark Art of Political Intimidation', was placed in 'restricted mode', making it inaccessible to schools, libraries and those with a YouTube filter.

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Last month, YouTube was accused of censorship after it emerged it has been removing the ability for users to make money from their videos if they express politically incorrect or offensive views. The latest video to fall victim to the new rules, is one on left wing censorship

WHAT IS PRAGERU?

The PragerU series is the brain child of radio host, Dennis Prager, who wanted to give students an alternative take on history.

According to its website, PragerU's mission is 'to explain and spread what we call "Americanism" through the power of the Internet.'

On YouTube, PragerU has five-minute videos that 'clarify profoundly significant and uniquely American concepts for more than 100 million people each year.

'These values are Judeo-Christian at their core and include the concepts of freedom of speech, a free press, free markets and a strong military to protect and project those values.'

The video was posted last week by Kimberly Strassel, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, as part of the PragerU series, and explained why 'intimidation, harassment, and blackmail have become the norm in American politics'.

The Wall Street Journal wrote in a post: 'Within several hours of PragerU posting the video, YouTube placed it in "restricted mode", making it inaccessible to schools, libraries and young Americans whose parents have enabled YouTube technology filters.'

The PragerU series is the brain child of radio host, Dennis Prager, who wanted to give students an alternative take on history.

So far there have been more than 100 PragerU videos posted on YouTube, and 21 have been placed in restricted mode.

A spokesperson for YouTube told the Wall Street Journal that 'video restrictions are decided by an "algorithm" that factors in "community flagging" and "sensitive content'".

This suggests that the algorithm was activated by people flagging the video, and in the process doing exactly what the video accuses people of doing.

Jared Sichel, communications director at PragerU, told The Daily Signal: 'Over the last several months, PragerU and YouTube have been in communication regarding a number of PragerU videos that YouTube has listed under restricted mode.

'That number has since grown to 21 videos.

The video was posted last week by Kimberly Strassel, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, as part of the PragerU series, and explained why intimidation, harassment, and blackmail have become the norm in American politics

'Restricted mode is something that many parents and schools use so that children don't watch explicit adult and sexual content—not so they can't find animated, educational videos on topics ranging from history and economics to happiness and philosophy.'

PragerU has started a petition online to stop YouTube from blocking its videos, and YouTube has since lifted the restriction on the 'The Dark Art of Political Intimidation' video.

WARNINGS ON INTERNET FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech online is being restricted or is threatened in at least a dozen countries, it has been claimed with the publication of a new report.

The trend is alarming policymakers who see the internet as a valuable tool for encouraging debate and free expression.

A report on internet governance by the Global Commission on Internet Governance, warned a growing number of countries are considering introducing laws to restrict freedom online.

Released at a ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, organised by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the report said 'the future of the internet hangs in the balance' and warns of dangers of intrusive surveillance, rising cybercrime and fragmentation as governments exert control online.

China and Iran have long had restrictions in place on the use of the internet and the kind of material that can be posted online. Tanzania and Ethiopia recently passed laws restricting online speech.

But according to Reuters, there are moves to introduce limits on internet use in several other countries including Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bolivia, Kenya and Nigeria.

The report's authors said these moves threatened to criminalise conversations that would otherwise be protected under the countries' constitutions.