Google said Thursday that it would block YouTube users from leaving comments on most videos that feature minors, responding to reports that pedophiles had used the site to find, track and exploit children.
An employee holding recording equipment walks past Google's YouTube logo displayed at a company studio in Tokyo. By Tony Romm and Tony Romm Staff writer covering technology policy Email Bio Follow Craig Timberg Craig Timberg National reporter covering technology Email Bio Follow February 28 at 2:16 PM YouTube said Thursday that it will block users from commenting on most videos that feature minors, responding to reports that pedophiles had used comments to find, track and exploit children.
YouTube, which is part of Google, said the new rules would take several months to implement, and it would identify minors in videos using software. YouTube’s move comes two weeks after a video blogger documented how the site had enabled what he called a “soft-core pedophile ring.” In many cases, apparent pedophiles took advantage of YouTube’s comments system, where they would post time stamps so that others could skip ahead to moments when kids are in compromising positions. Users who viewed videos of minors would be served up additional videos featuring children through YouTube’s recommendation engine.
On Thursday, YouTube said it had accelerated its work on new software that could spot and remove predatory comments more effectively, adding it had terminated additional channels that put children at risk. The company said it would grant an exception to its new comment ban for a “small number of channels that actively moderate their comments and take additional steps to protect children.”
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