YouTube is making money on scams

by Steven Garrity

This week YouTube started showing me an ad with an obviously (to me) fake video of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asking people to sign up for some AI program. The link points to a form hosted on TypeForm.

YouTube screenshot showing an advertisement with an AI-generated Mark Carney standing outdoors with a Canadian flag in the background and a prompt button to Register here.

I’ve reported this ad as a scam at least three or four times, yet YouTube continues to serve it to me.

I can see how it would be infeasible for YouTube to screen every video they host – but as soon as they accept a penny from an advertiser, they take on the complete burden of filtering out (at least obvious) scams.

I would also expect that some facial-recognition might be in order for a G7 world leader.

Shame on YouTube.

 

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