Lawsuit by Black YouTubers against YouTube faces “uphill battle”

Enlarge / Kimberly Newman, the lead plaintiff, in a 2019 YouTube video. (credit: Kimberly Newman / YouTube)

Four Black YouTubers have sued YouTube, arguing that the online platform discriminates against Black content creators like themselves.

YouTube "knowingly, intentionally, and systematically employs artificial intelligence algorithms, computer and machine based filtering and review tools to 'target' Plaintiffs and all other persons similarly situated, by using information about their racial identity and viewpoint to restrict access and drive them off YouTube," the lawsuit states.

In their 103-page lawsuit, the four women detail a variety of challenges they've faced over the years as YouTube content creators. On several occasions, YouTube demonetized some of their videos, blocking them from generating revenue via ads. They say these decisions were made based on vague criteria with no meaningful opportunity to appeal. They also fault YouTube for failing to take down—and in some cases even promoting—"hate speech videos targeting the African American community."

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