Amid a surge of misinformation on social media sites, YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, said it is ramping up its efforts to tackle the issue using generative artificial intelligence.
The company is targeting misinformation that is spread through various means, including deepfake videos that use AI manipulation techniques like face swapping and generate realistic images, to create misleading content.
The problem has been exacerbated, not only by the rapid advancement of technology but also by recent regional events including Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza.
YouTube said it is also addressing other forms of misinformation, such as misleading thumbnails, deceptive titles, selective editing, false claims and repurposed content from unrelated events.
The cases of misinformation on the platform have surged in the past few months. YouTube said it has removed more than 117,065 videos globally for violating its misinformation policies in the first quarter of 2024. This is about 67 per cent higher than in the same quarter last year.
Tarek Amin, YouTube's regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, said the platform is tackling the menace of misinformation using a combination of AI and human oversight.
The company defines misinformation as “deceptive content with serious risk of egregious harm”, Mr Amin explained.
“During breaking news events and crises, what happens in the world also happens on YouTube . … that’s why stopping the spread of misinformation is one of our deepest commitments in the region,” he told The National.
Israel's war on Gaza, for example, has been the subject of many instances of breaking news-induced misinformation spreading through platforms such as TikTok, Elon Musk-owned X, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube.
In a deepfake video that was circulated on X on October 28, supermodel Bella Hadid appeared to apologise for her remarks supporting Palestinian rights and express support for Israel.
But the original footage was from a 2016 speech that Ms Hadid gave about her battle with a disease. The deepfake altered the visuals and audio to make it seem like she was criticising Palestine, according to AFP Fact Check.
In the same month, AI-altered footage from the video game Arma 3 was uploaded on various platforms and falsely labelled as real footage of the conflict. This misled viewers and aggravated tensions and unrest.
In the quarter ended March, more than 96 per cent of the 8.2 million videos that YouTube removed were first flagged by its automated AI-driven systems
Also, last month, a video circulating on social media, and shared more than 4,000 times on X, falsely implied that Rafah actors were preparing to stage scenes of injury in Gaza.
This misinformation campaign included AI-generated, repurposed content taken from behind-the-scenes footage of a Palestinian drama series filmed in the occupied West Bank. Although it was taken down by platforms, the manipulated content, which was widely shared and viewed millions of times, likely added to the heightened anger and tensions around the war.
Before that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there were videos on various platforms wrongly asserting that drinking bleach could cure the virus. They were swiftly removed by YouTube to prevent misinformation and protect users.
Misinformation can cause real-world harm, such as promoting harmful remedies or treatments, certain types of technically manipulated content, or content interfering with democratic processes, Mr Amin said.
Old war, new weapons
While the spread of misinformation through social media platforms goes back decades, it has been scaled up rapidly with the use of automated systems and generative AI technologies.
Industry experts and authorities argue that platforms have failed to adequately address misinformation, leading to rumours, disbelief and injuries.
In October, Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the EU internal market, sent a letter to Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet, to prevent the spread of misinformation on YouTube about Israel and Gaza.
This came after a letter was also sent to X owner Elon Musk, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew and Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg with a 24-hour deadline to halt the misinformation spread.
In her reply to the European Commission, X’s chief executive Linda Yaccarino said the platform has removed “tens of thousands of pieces of content” to minimise misinformation related to the war.
Platforms have also been condemned by social media users and human rights activists for subjugating regional voices.
In 2021, Instagram and Facebook faced a backlash for suppressing Palestinian content during protests in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, when posts and accounts highlighting the situation were inexplicably removed or shadow banned, New York-based non-profit organisation Human Rights Watch revealed in a report.
During the same period, TikTok users reported their videos and hashtags supporting Palestine were being taken down without clear reasons, raising concerns over biased content moderation, another New York-based civic and social organisation Access Now found.
YouTube told The National it is impartially enforcing its guidelines to prevent the spread of misinformation related to the Israel-Gaza conflict while ensuring that legitimate opinions and viewpoints are not stifled.
The company does not remove content for discussing a specific topic or for sharing a viewpoint, which is particularly sensitive in instances like the Israel-Gaza conflict, said Mr Amin.
“We take our responsibility to surface authoritative news sources seriously, especially during war and conflict … the nature of crises means that there is content that is violent or graphic, which would violate our policies. However, we allow content that has educational, documentary and scientific value … like news content,” he explained.
But there are also guidelines related to news content, such as blurring graphic injuries and age-gating content that is not suitable for all viewers, when necessary, he added.
AI defence
Mr Amin said YouTube is using a slew of generative AI tools for content moderation to minimise the spread of misinformation. This is done through a combination of human judgment and machine learning, with more than 20,000 reviewers operating around the world.
In its back-end systems, AI classifiers – digital tools that are trained to categorise multimedia data into predefined classes or labels – help detect unacceptable content and human reviewers confirm whether the content has crossed policy lines, such as promoting misinformation related to violence, hate speech, or medically inaccurate information.
One of the significant areas of impact has been the identification of new forms of abuse and misinformation, Mr Amin said.
“When new threats arise, systems initially lack the context to recognise them on a large scale. However, generative AI allows YouTube to quickly broaden the data set used to train its AI classifiers, enabling faster detection of such content.”
In the quarter ended March 31, more than 96 per cent of the 8.2 million videos that YouTube removed were first flagged by its automated AI-driven systems, Mr Amin said.
Some of the AI tools used by companies such as YouTube are built using machine learning frameworks and software such as TensorFlow and PyTorch, to create deep learning models capable of analysing vast amounts of video content. They also use a mix of natural language processing tools for analysing and understanding the context of video transcripts and comments.
“It's healthy to pivot the conversation from what we need to do about generative AI to what we can do with it. We need defensive AIs to catch malicious ones,” Sam Blatteis, chief executive of The Mena Catalysts, told The National.
Analysts recommend that YouTube ensures its distribution algorithms do not promote misinformation.
“Historically, distribution algorithms have been driven by what triggers reactions and interest, which is essentially the attention economy … posing a significant risk,” Tim Gordon, co-founder and partner at the UK-based Best Practice AI, told The National.
“However, there are opportunities to improve this [algorithms] through AI. We can use AI at scale to analyse YouTube videos, understand their content, and identify those most likely to spread misinformation.”
In September, YouTube announced a series of AI resources to support video content creators globally, and following that in November, guidelines requiring users to disclose fabricated or altered content.
The company stated creators must disclose when they have produced “altered or synthetic” content using AI with an on-screen notification. Failure to disclose may result in the content being flagged or removed and habitual offenders could face account suspension.
YouTube has also set out AI principles specifically designed to protect music artists and the integrity of their work, Mr Amin said.
“It's notable that YouTube uses a combination of algorithmic and human judgment to determine if content sits on this [misinformation] spectrum,” Dev Nag, chief executive of San Francisco-based AI firm QueryPal, told The National.
“But YouTube is much more hands-off when it comes to bias, which involves more subjective framing … this will also require a hybrid approach of machines [to detect harmful content] and humans [to validate AI’s findings].”
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
BRIEF SCORES
England 353 and 313-8 dec
(B Stokes 112, A Cook 88; M Morkel 3-70, K Rabada 3-85)
(J Bairstow 63, T Westley 59, J Root 50; K Maharaj 3-50)
South Africa 175 and 252
(T Bavuma 52; T Roland-Jones 5-57, J Anderson 3-25)
(D Elgar 136; M Ali 4-45, T Roland-Jones 3-72)
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
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RESULT
Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United: Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')
Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
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WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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