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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| YouTube: UK government suspends ads amid extremism concerns | YouTube: UK government suspends ads amid extremism concerns |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government has removed its adverts from YouTube amid concerns they are appearing next to "inappropriate" material on the video-sharing site. | The government has removed its adverts from YouTube amid concerns they are appearing next to "inappropriate" material on the video-sharing site. |
| The Cabinet Office said it was seeking assurances from YouTube's owner Google that its messages would be displayed in a "safe and appropriate way" in future. | The Cabinet Office said it was seeking assurances from YouTube's owner Google that its messages would be displayed in a "safe and appropriate way" in future. |
| The Guardian, Channel 4 and the BBC have also pulled ads citing similar worries. | |
| Google said it would review its controls. | |
| The firm has been attacked by MPs in the past for not doing more to curb online hate speech. | |
| The internet giant said it had "strict guidelines" about the placement of adverts but conceded "we don't always get it right". | The internet giant said it had "strict guidelines" about the placement of adverts but conceded "we don't always get it right". |
| A recent investigation by the Times found adverts were appearing alongside content from supporters of extremist groups, making them around £6 per 1,000 viewers, as well as making money for the company. | A recent investigation by the Times found adverts were appearing alongside content from supporters of extremist groups, making them around £6 per 1,000 viewers, as well as making money for the company. |
| Ministers have summoned Google for talks at the Cabinet Office after imposing a temporary restriction on its own ads - including for military recruitment and blood donation campaigns - appearing on YouTube. | Ministers have summoned Google for talks at the Cabinet Office after imposing a temporary restriction on its own ads - including for military recruitment and blood donation campaigns - appearing on YouTube. |
| Among the campaigns thought to be affected is one to boost Army recruitment. A major push was launched at the start of the year emphasising the travel opportunities on offer and the lasting friendships made within the Army's ranks. | Among the campaigns thought to be affected is one to boost Army recruitment. A major push was launched at the start of the year emphasising the travel opportunities on offer and the lasting friendships made within the Army's ranks. |
| The government is reported to spend about £2m a year on army recruitment advertising and recently moved away from TV advertising to focus more on digital platforms like YouTube. | The government is reported to spend about £2m a year on army recruitment advertising and recently moved away from TV advertising to focus more on digital platforms like YouTube. |
| 'Strict guidelines' | 'Strict guidelines' |
| The Cabinet Office said digital platforms such as YouTube were a "cost-effective" way of reaching mass audiences but the taxpayer demanded high standards and it would be seeking action following recent negative media coverage. | The Cabinet Office said digital platforms such as YouTube were a "cost-effective" way of reaching mass audiences but the taxpayer demanded high standards and it would be seeking action following recent negative media coverage. |
| "Google is responsible for ensuring the high standards applied to government advertising are adhered to and that adverts do not appear alongside inappropriate content," a spokesman said. | "Google is responsible for ensuring the high standards applied to government advertising are adhered to and that adverts do not appear alongside inappropriate content," a spokesman said. |
| "We have placed a temporary restriction on our YouTube advertising pending reassurances from Google that government messages can be delivered in a safe and appropriate way." | "We have placed a temporary restriction on our YouTube advertising pending reassurances from Google that government messages can be delivered in a safe and appropriate way." |
| Google acknowledged its record was not perfect and said it was committed to "doing better". | Google acknowledged its record was not perfect and said it was committed to "doing better". |
| "We have strict guidelines that define where Google ads should appear," a spokesman said. "In the vast majority of cases, our policies work as intended, protecting users and advertisers from harmful or inappropriate content. | "We have strict guidelines that define where Google ads should appear," a spokesman said. "In the vast majority of cases, our policies work as intended, protecting users and advertisers from harmful or inappropriate content. |
| "We accept that we don't always get it right and that sometimes, ads appear where they should not...We will make changes to our policies and brand controls for advertisers." | "We accept that we don't always get it right and that sometimes, ads appear where they should not...We will make changes to our policies and brand controls for advertisers." |
| 'Safe environment' | 'Safe environment' |
| But Channel 4 has questioned whether YouTube remains a "safe environment" for advertisers, saying it had removed all its promotions with immediate effect. | But Channel 4 has questioned whether YouTube remains a "safe environment" for advertisers, saying it had removed all its promotions with immediate effect. |
| "We are extremely concerned about Channel 4 advertising being placed alongside highly offensive material on YouTube," said Dan Brooke, the broadcaster's chief marketing and communications officer. | "We are extremely concerned about Channel 4 advertising being placed alongside highly offensive material on YouTube," said Dan Brooke, the broadcaster's chief marketing and communications officer. |
| "It is a direct contravention of assurances our media buying agency had received on our behalf from YouTube." | "It is a direct contravention of assurances our media buying agency had received on our behalf from YouTube." |
| The Guardian has withdrawn all its advertising from both Google and YouTube after it said a promotion for a membership scheme had been inadvertently placed next to extremist material, including videos of American white nationalists, a hate preacher banned in the UK and a controversial Islamist preacher. | The Guardian has withdrawn all its advertising from both Google and YouTube after it said a promotion for a membership scheme had been inadvertently placed next to extremist material, including videos of American white nationalists, a hate preacher banned in the UK and a controversial Islamist preacher. |
| David Pemsel, the media group's chief executive, said the error had been "completely unacceptable." | David Pemsel, the media group's chief executive, said the error had been "completely unacceptable." |
| During a recent appearance before the Commons Home Affairs Committee, executives from Facebook, Twitter and Google were told they had a "terrible reputation" for dealing with problems and should be policing their content more effectively, given the billions they made. | During a recent appearance before the Commons Home Affairs Committee, executives from Facebook, Twitter and Google were told they had a "terrible reputation" for dealing with problems and should be policing their content more effectively, given the billions they made. |