Live data from Hacker News

YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

old.reddit.com

51–60 of 375 posts

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#51

As it turns out there is a whole category in YouTubes ad system for Get-Rich-Quick schemes, as detailed out in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhGJUTW3ag&t=1031s (timestamped at the relevant time). Just today I saw my elderly father click on a YouTube ad link for a crypto scam copying Swedish televisions web layout he was reading it and I saw it at the corner of my eye. He has adblock installed, he disabl…

Ad blocker can block that popup...

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#52
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So Google is then knowingly participating in financial scams? Looks like grounds for a lawsuit.

Google is not alone in promoting such scams and being complicit of crime. The law doesn't apply to big companies though, so they can keep doing so and profiting off it.

DMCA takedowns are proof that law applies to big companies too. Unfortunately, they only respond to lawsuits it seems.

Victims of these scams should sue Google, Meta and any other big company knowingly participating in these kind of scams.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#54

I routinely see ads for fake medical treatments that they refuse to take these down when I report them despite the fact that the ads obviously violate Google's policies. So many of the ads on YouTube are for things that are obviously sketchy that when I see a new product I'm not familiar with for the first time in YouTube ad I just assume it is a scam. It's crazy because YouTube has probably more information about th…

> despite the fact that the ads obviously violate Google's policies

There's no contradiction here. Google's policies exist primarily in service of keeping their platforms safe for advertisers. The ads aren't placed on other ads though, so there's no reason for them to stress much about maintaining the same quality in their ads as the content being monetized.

As for targeting, they're just optimizing for CPM. If advertisers for scammy junk pay more than advertisers for things you might like to buy, then you get what you see now. There's always another mark for the scams.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#55
post #51

As it turns out there is a whole category in YouTubes ad system for Get-Rich-Quick schemes, as detailed out in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhGJUTW3ag&t=1031s (timestamped at the relevant time). Just today I saw my elderly father click on a YouTube ad link for a crypto scam copying Swedish televisions web layout he was reading it and I saw it at the corner of my eye. He has adblock installed, he disabl…

Ad blocker can block that popup...

Yeah if it is updated chrome plugin which Google of course delayed update on.

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#56

This isn’t news… Facebook won’t remove any scam ad, post, or account either. They just don’t care.

A while ago I reported a video of a cat being blended in a blender on Facebook. Apparently that didn't go against their policy either.

Arguably that won't cause as much damage as scams. But holy bad taste

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#58
post #51

As it turns out there is a whole category in YouTubes ad system for Get-Rich-Quick schemes, as detailed out in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkhGJUTW3ag&t=1031s (timestamped at the relevant time). Just today I saw my elderly father click on a YouTube ad link for a crypto scam copying Swedish televisions web layout he was reading it and I saw it at the corner of my eye. He has adblock installed, he disabl…

Ad blocker can block that popup...

Yes, but as of the last couple months. YouTube and ad blockers have been in a constant cat and mouse game where YouTube blocks users with an AD blocker from viewing content at all, until your ad blocker updates with new rules to circumvent that blocking. Trivial for you and I maybe, but less so for someone the GP described as “elderly”

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#59
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because your mega advertisers (Coca Cola, Disney, et al) are being played next to scam ads. Also I think this should be a two way street. If content creators need to moderate their content lest they be slapped to death by Youtube to help the advertisers, advertisers also have a responsibility to ensure their advertisements do not cause issue for content creators and/or viewers. It's unclear who currently runs Youtube…

You have just a few big advertisers, but millons of scammers. Scammers can outspend big advertisers.

Taking down individual scammers is almost cost free though, whereas Disney has a lot more to spend

Re: YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads

#60
post #36

It may be extreme, but I think we need to pass legislation to make advertising networks civilly liable for fraud facilitated by their services. Google will change its tune quickly when it's their wallet on the line. As a bonus, this also provides a restitution path for victims (most of these frauds are run overseas, so the perpetrators are out of reach of the justice system).

AdBlock tried gently with "acceptable ads". https://getadblock.com/en/acceptable-ads-faq/

I don't mind the antagonistic method today since I will NEVER accept the idea that an ad is acceptable. The law you propose would help weaken advertising and that would make me happy. Apple killing targeted ads also made it worst.

Sports gambling also makes the environment worst.

Post reply on HN