YouTube doesn't want to take down scam ads (old.reddit.com)

Article summary

The article discusses YouTube's handling of scam ads, with some users reporting that the platform fails to take down ads that impersonate well-known people and companies. Despite being alerted to these ads, YouTube claims they do not break any of its policies. This has led to concerns about the company's priorities and potential legal repercussions. The issue has sparked a discussion about the responsibility of online ad distributors to police their platforms.

Main themes

• scam ads on YouTube
• online ad regulation
• corporate responsibility
• targeted advertising
• adblocking and revenue models
• regulatory action and liability

What commenters say

• YouTube's failure to remove scam ads suggests that the company prioritizes revenue over user safety.
• The presence of scam ads on the platform could damage the reputation of legitimate advertisers and drive them away.
• Google's targeted advertising technology makes scam ads more dangerous and profitable, raising questions about the company's complicity in these scams.
• The company's actions may be liable under local laws, similar to traditional TV and radio broadcasters.
• Some argue that regulators are slow to act and that Google can continue to profit from scam ads in the short term.
• Others believe that the proliferation of scam ads could ultimately lead to increased support for ad-blocking and regulatory action.
• The use of targeted advertising technology to deliver scam ads to vulnerable individuals is particularly egregious and potentially illegal.
• Google's war on adblockers and prioritization of revenue over user safety are seen as related issues by some commentators.