A recent investigation by activist group Avvaz revealed that YouTube is promoting misinformation about climate and environmental issues on its platform. The revelation has sparked a storm of reactions given that the YouTube platform is funded by the world’s largest corporations as well as environmental groups, through advertisements and videos.
In more detail, the activist group Avaaz recently conducted research with the main purpose of examining how YouTube protects its users from misinformation on environmental climate issues. Specifically, it examined the videos that YouTube recommends on its platform when users search for information about the greenhouse effect and the manipulation that is being done regarding the climate and the environment. The research focused in particular on videos that appear through YouTube’s “Up Next” function as well as the next video that plays after the clip has finished. 
Campaign leader for the activist group Avaaz, Fadi Quran, said that 1 in 5 users who search for information on YouTube about issues such as the greenhouse effect and climate change are likely to fall victim to misinformation. This is because YouTube largely promotes and encourages misinformation by paying content every time an ad is placed in a video.
Companies and environmental groups were advertising in videos, unaware that their ads were appearing alongside misinformation on climate and environmental issues.
Studies show that the activist group relied on a YouTube developer tool that attempts to replicate the platform’s algorithm for video recommendations. In line with that, the researchers acknowledged that the study does not provide a copy of YouTube’s recommendation algorithm. However, they argued that their data is very likely representative of similar recommendations that YouTube presents to users.
Following the findings of this research, the activist group Avaaz called on YouTube to introduce new policies to prevent the further spread of climate and environmental misinformation. This includes proposing that YouTube include climate misinformation in its “borderline content” policy and isolate any misinformation content. Avaaz also suggests that YouTube work with independent “moderators” to notify users who have watched videos containing misinformation.
It is worth noting that the activist group Avaaz has discovered, among others, that companies such as Samsung, L'Oreal and Uberhave advertisements running on disinformation videos. At the same time, prominent environmental groups such as Greenpeace International and the World Wildlife Fund advertise such videos, thereby contributing to the spread of disinformation.
YouTube, for its part, said systems are not designed to filter or demote videos or channels that hold certain views. Instead, YouTube says it has strict advertising policies and has invested heavily in reducing misinformation and increasing authenticity.
Additionally, some of the companies mentioned were quick to respond. Specifically, a L'Oréal spokesperson told The Millennial Source that the information promoted by these videos contradicts L'Oréal's commitments and the work its executives do to protect the environment. He also said that the company is working with YouTube teams asking them to use all technological means at their disposal to better inform users of the platform about the nature and content of these videos. At the same time, Hyundai Motor America said that it is constantly working with YouTube to ensure that the ads contain content that follows established protocols and filters, including avoiding content that promotes inaccurate information.
This is not the first time YouTube has been in the spotlight for such incidents, however. In early 2019, big-name brands such as Walt Disney Co. and Nestle removed their ads from YouTube following accusations that the site's comments section was promoting the activities of a pedophile ring.
This contrasts with critics who claim that YouTube has promoted anti-vaccination content.
YouTube, however, is trying to combat misinformation. Specifically, in 2019, Google, the owner of YouTube, released a document detailing the steps it took to combat misinformation on its platforms, including YouTube, Google News, and Google Search. Among other methods, the company said it would address the issue by using human moderators to decide whether something is a high-quality result for a particular search. Google also revealed that it is trying to weed out trolls and hackers.
Finally, YouTube executives announced that in the US the platform would begin reducing recommendations for so-called “borderline” content, meaning videos that come close to violating the site’s rules in areas such as hate speech. Despite the announcement of the changes, a Bloomberg report in April 2019 said that YouTube was aware of misinformation on its site but did not stop it. This led to senior executives resigning due to the company’s lack of action on the problem.
