YouTube Removes 2 Million Videos in India, Introduces 'Watch Page' for News

Google, in an official announcement on Thursday, disclosed that it had purged over two million videos from its Indian YouTube platform during the second quarter of 2023. These removals were enacted due to violations of Google's stringent content policies. The declaration came from Mira Chatt, the Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for YouTube India, as part of the Google for India event. Notably, a considerable portion of these deleted videos had an audience of fewer than ten viewers.

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Google, in an official announcement on Thursday, disclosed that it had purged over two million videos from its Indian YouTube platform during the second quarter of 2023. These removals were enacted due to violations of Google's stringent content policies. The declaration came from Mira Chatt, the Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for YouTube India, as part of the Google for India event. Notably, a considerable portion of these deleted videos had an audience of fewer than ten viewers.

In a bid to elevate the quality of news content available on YouTube, the platform is gearing up to introduce an innovative feature called the "Watch Page" in India in the coming months. This specialized Watch Page is set to be accessible in a variety of eleven Indian languages. Mira Chatt expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "Today, I am thrilled to introduce the 'Watch Page' for news. This dedicated space will recommend videos from reliable and trustworthy sources."

To gain access to the Watch Page for news content on YouTube, users can simply click on a video featuring a newspaper icon, which can be found either on the homepage or in the search results.

The YouTube News Watch Page will consolidate content from credible sources, encompassing video-on-demand, live streams, podcasts, and Shorts. This new feature is designed to empower viewers to explore diverse sources and perspectives, all within a single watch page. Here, users can easily discover relevant long-form videos, live coverage, and Shorts to swiftly stay informed.

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It's essential to note that the government has recently urged YouTube to take action against fake news channels operating on its platform. However, it's important to clarify that the government has not provided a precise definition of "fake news" in its communications with YouTube.

In short, Google's proactive approach to policing content on YouTube in India by removing over two million videos underscores its commitment to maintaining high content standards. Simultaneously, the introduction of the 'Watch Page' for news aims to enhance the news consumption experience for Indian users, promoting reliability and trustworthiness in news sources and aiding them in staying well-informed on various topics.