Palestinian Media Watch videos banned from YouTube

[shira]

The Palestinian Media Watch account was removed from YouTube on Sunday, due to alleged violations of the video-sharing site's terms of service.

YouTube claims that PMW's account propagates hate speech, whereas the organization says that the purpose of the videos is to "expose the hate speech of the PA and the Hamas, in order to bring about its elimination."

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=200124

[shira]

1. Google-owned YouTube bans PMW for exposing and critiquing hate videos

Astonishingly, YouTube has closed down Palestinian Media Watch's main video account - PALWATCH - for allegedly "violating YouTube terms of use", by supposedly propagating hate speech. PMW does not promote hate speech, but rather exposes the hate speech of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, to bring about its elimination.

According to PMW Executive Director Itamar Marcus, YouTube stated that the account was henceforth terminated "due to repeated or severe violations of our Terms of Use" and they specified the following PMW videos from Palestinian sources, promoting the killing of Jews:

1. "Hamas TV teaches kids to kill Jews" formerly at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwN2M6ZIIRU
Removed for violating our Terms of Use on 10/02/2009.

2. "Jews are a virus like Aids" formerly at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYaGl3KjPUw
Removed for violating our Terms of Use on 01/18/2010.

3. "Farewell video before suicide attack of Hamas suicide bomber Adham Ahmad Hujyla Abu Jandal" formerly at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYdTudQhWM4
Removed for violating our Terms of Use on 06/10/2010.

4. "Hamas suicide farewell video: Jews monkeys and pigs; Maidens reward for killing Jews" formerly at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryc7RqXlVdE
Removed for violating our Terms of Use on 08/14/2010.

5. "PA cleric: Kill Jews, Allah will make Muslims masters over Jews" formerly at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjuDTO8fgqM
Removed for violating our Terms of Use on 12/12/2010.

6. "Hamas suicide terrorist farewell video: Palestinians drink the blood of Jews" formerly at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSftYIGH6-w
Removed for violating our Terms of Use on 12/15/2010.

YouTube has not consistently eliminated hate videos posted by Palestinian and other Muslim extremist organizations, which routinely post Jew-hating, violence-inciting, and even weapon-preparation videos.

The move by YouTube against PMW would, if applied consistently, muzzle any attempt to use its service to critique hate and violence-advocating videos. The critical and analytical use of its service for these constructive purposes has been one of the true benefits of YouTube.

It would be stunningly stupid if the YouTube truly cannot distinguish between the critique of violence and hatred, and the advocacy and propagation of videos which flaunt violent and hateful messages. This is really too ridiculous that one can only hope that it is a case of a lower-level decision by either someone with a biased agenda or a blockhead incapable of distinguishing between vicious crime and scholarly crime-fighting.

It appears that PMW has begun reposting the offensive and hateful video on a new YouTube account: http://youtube.com/palmediawatch. In the last few hours it has reposted more than 40 examples of vicious violence-inspiring content from Palestinian sources, accompanied by incisive and responsible analysis.

The coming hours and days will tell whether YouTube, and its owner Google, really intends to lurch down the road to one-sided and blockheaded bias and censorship.

http://israelinsider.net/profiles/blogs/googleowned-youtube-bans-pmw

[henank]

2. Its' nuts isn't it?

They ban the channel that shows hatred and bias produced by another party, yet they allow those original hate-filled videos. It makes no sense whatsoever.

It would be stunningly stupid if the YouTube truly cannot distinguish between the critique of violence and hatred, and the advocacy and propagation of videos which flaunt violent and hateful messages. This is really too ridiculous that one can only hope that it is a case of a lower-level decision by either someone with a biased agenda or a blockhead incapable of distinguishing between vicious crime and scholarly crime-fighting.

Perfectly stated.

[shira]

3. Many of the harshest critics of Israel hate PMW, as well as MEMRI

They actually think these organizations are racist and hateful.

Ironically, they're the loudest and most obnoxious when they claim Zionists cannot stand any criticism of Israel.

:)

Oh yeah, a lot of PMW's content that Youtube is banning is from PA television which the EU funds.

[henank]

4. Update: PMW's YouTube account restored

Palestinian Media Watch just tweeted that their YouTube account has been restored. Well done to everyone for campaigning!