Without offering any specific explanation, the video-sharing site YouTube has removed a new video by the student group Live Action that shows dishonest counseling practices at Planned Parenthood. The video first plays undercover footage of a Planned Parenthood counselor from Tucson, AZ telling a patient that images of aborted fetuses "are not real" and then shows photographs of a completed abortion and documentation of their authenticity.
.jpg)
Lila Rose, 20-year-old president of Live Action, calls on YouTube to re-instate the video in accordance with its own guidelines: "Since the video we posted does not violate any terms of use, we expect YouTube to re-instate it immediately. YouTube's own 'Community Guideline Tips' advise that intense or disturbing imaging should be 'balanced with additional context and information,' which is exactly what Live Action has done." YouTube has removed videos posted by Live Action without explanation before, including videos showing Planned Parenthood employees caught on tape sympathizing with donors with racist agendas to encourage the abortion of black babies.
Live Action's videos use undercover tactics to expose fraudulent practices in the abortion industry and are similar to other "sting" investigations which journalists often post on YouTube. The most recent video is part of Live Action's Mona Lisa Project, which documents abusive practices in Planned Parenthood clinics across the nation. Footage released to date has caught on hidden camera six Planned Parenthood clinics in three states ignoring their mandatory reporting responsibilities for statutory rape and protecting adult-child sexual relationships. Recently the Tennessee State Legislature used undercover footage from Live Action to help divert nearly $1 million in taxpayer subsidies from Planned Parenthood clinics, and in California, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to end a nearly $300,000 contract with the abortion provider.
"New media is vital to educating the public about the shocking realities of abortion practice in America," Rose emphasized. "Our videos show hard truths about the abortion industry that must be seen and dealt with. Lawmakers and their constituents are recognizing this, but YouTube does everyone a disservice when they cooperate with Planned Parenthood in burying the evidence of abuse."
Comments
This really isn't anything new on Youtube's part. You can get just about anything removed if you get a couple people to "flag" it. Flagging reports a video for whatever you want to the admins of Youtube. The admins usually delete the video blindly without any sort of consideration for the content in question, or with regard to the complaint. There have been many people falsely accused of DMCA and obscenity violations that have had videos removed, and even their channels deleted. It's a really stupid system.
Being flagged should not be grounds for removal. Somebody at Youtube has to push the delete button. More than likely the Youtube rep is a blatant intolerant liberal with no taste for a free market exchange of ideas and prefers to squash viewpoint expression that is not compatible with the views of progressive nitwits.
YouTube is Google's property. There is no right to free speech there, they can add or remove whatever they want. Just like I don't have the right to come into your house and do whatever I like. You would have the right to kick me out.
They do seem to react first then investigate, but it is still their house.
John your comment is a bald assertion do you have anything to back it up or are just trying to randomly discredit people you have never meet or talked to based on a couple of posts?
Here John F., let me help you out by quoting this again, "The admins usually delete the video blindly without any sort of consideration for the content in question, or with regard to the complaint."
Look, I know conspiracy is fun and all, but I have seen many types of videos removed from youtube for no apparent reason aside from someone flagging the video. Either they flag it, or they file false DMCA claims against the author's video. It's really easy, and youtube just pulls the trigger to shut it down immediately. The author must go through an appeal process of several weeks before the video/channel is reinstated. All comments and views are removed, and if the channel was suspended, then all subscriptions are removed as well.
It's a sad attempt by people who don't agree with the content to remove the author's voice from youtube, and the admins don't seem to care much about it. Believe me, these people aren't the first to have their video removed.
@ beam stalk... that's nice, and you would still have the right to complain about being kicked out.
second, "no right to free speech"... its not quite that simple, whether you perceive youtube as the publicly traded corporation Google's "property" or not.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!