Google refuses removal of anti-Islam clip from YouTube
Egyptian protesters burn the US flag during a demonstration against the American anti-Islam film on September 12, 2012.
As anti-American protests spread across the Muslim world over an anti-Islamic video promoted through YouTube website, its US-based owner Google has refused to remove the item from the website, only blocking access to it in Egypt and Libya.
According to US media reports on Thursday, Google claimed it decided to block the video in response to an attack against a US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi that killed four American diplomats, including its ambassador to the country, Christopher Stevens.
The company further stated that its decision was unusual and made due to the exceptional circumstances, claiming that its policy is to remove content only if it represents hate speech, violating its terms of service, or in response to US government request or court orders.
The American company, however, claimed that it did not consider the highly offensive Islamophobic video, demonizing Muslims and their highly-revered prophet as a hate piece.
The Google statement comes as millions of protesters across the Muslim world clearly considered the video as one of the most inflammatory material content to circulate on the internet.
From Afghanistan to Libya, security forces and authorities have been struggling to control an outpouring of popular outrage over the video and urging US officials to take appropriate action against its producers.
Google’s action, according to US observers, has raises fundamental questions about the control that internet companies have over online expression.
Under YouTube’s terms of service, hate speech is speech against individuals, not against groups. The US-based company claims since the video mocks Islam but not Muslims, it has been allowed to stay on the site in most of the world. The company did not, however, explain how it would be possible for the video to scorn Islam but not its followers.
“This video - which is widely available on the Web - is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube,” said a Google statement.
Outrage is growing across the Muslim world over the $5-million movie that was reportedly financed by more than 100 Zionist Jews.
Source: Presstv