Syrian civil war videos flagged erroneously on YouTube
The documentation of the Syrian conflict on YouTube is at risk due to new measures adopted by the video-sharing company to curb inappropriate, extreme content, under pressure from the international community to bridle extremist content. The measures include machine learning protocols that identify objectionable materials for human experts to decide whether they should be taken down. Around 180 channels connected to Syria were halted through these protocols which jeopardise the documentation of flagrant human rights violations by Syrian activists. While YouTube announced that it will restore improperly erased videos, the Syrian Archive is seeking alternative ways to archive the Syrian civil war. It has also reinstated 20 channels and 400 000 videos; 150 000 videos are still in danger of being removed erroneously.
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