Why on earth would YouTube ban a video exposing lies, hate speech and anti-Semitism? Why would YouTube ban a video that actually enforces, rather than violates, YouTube’s community guidelines?
To date, we have posted more than 1,800 videos on our YouTube channel, and although hundreds have been demonetized, not one of them has been banned. That is, until now.
Honestly, it makes no sense.
I’m used to the fact that, the moment we post a video on our channel, even before it goes public, YouTube flags it as, “Not suitable for most advertisers.”
It’s ridiculous, but it’s the norm. Subject matter does not matter. The video still gets flagged.
But in the majority of cases, after review, the videos are remonetized. And in all cases, the videos are allowed to go public.
Except now, when I confront anti-Semitism and respond to lies spoken about me on YouTube by Catholic scholar E. Michael Jones, the video gets banned. (On the video, I also corrected errors in Dr. Jones’ recent mini-book, which is primarily an angry screed directed against me. But that’s a story for another article, since Amazon refused to post my review of the book!)
For example, on our video, we played a clip of Dr. Jones saying that Brown “claims to be a Christian but talks like a Jew.”
Aside from the patent absurdity of Dr. Jones saying that I “claim” to be a Christian, I asked on the video what it means to “talk like a Jew.”
And because of this the video gets banned?
He made other statements, attacking me falsely and claiming that he was not an anti-Semite. We played those clips, and I offered to debate him on whether his views were anti-Semitic.
And for this, my video gets banned?
He is allowed to attack me on YouTube, but I’m not allowed to set the record straight?
Actually, I defend Dr. Jones’ right to speak openly, contrary to his insinuations to the contrary. I defend his right to speak critically of the Jewish people and Israel. I do not believe his speech should be criminalized (despite his incessant claims to the contrary).
My issue is with YouTube refusing to allow me to correct his misstatements, made on their very platform. My issue is also with YouTube refusing to allow me to expose his anti-Semitism.
At the same time, YouTube also approved and monetized our video, which answers the question, “Did the Jews kill Jesus?”
According to Dr. Jones, the answer, without qualification, is yes, “The Jews killed Jesus.”
I took issue with Dr. Jones, both on the video YouTube banned and on this other video, which focused on this question.
Why, then, would YouTube ban the one video and approve the other?
On the banned video, we played a YouTube clip where Dr. Jones falsely claims, “If you disagree with Dr. Brown, he will call you an anti-Semite.” And on our banned video, I set the record straight. (In short, I will call you an anti-Semite if you defame and demonize the Jewish people as a people.)
That’s what our video was about. Responding to Dr. Jones’ false statements about me (and/or, the Jewish people), and setting the record straight.
And for this, our video gets banned.
Dr. Jones, without hesitation, and claiming scriptural support, believes that “the Jews are enemies of the entire human race.”
We played a clip where he stated this, and then I challenged his point of view.
And for this, our video gets banned. Something is not right.
When we appealed YouTube’s decision, certain that the reviewer had simply misunderstood the content (as if I were espousing anti-Semitism rather than exposing it), we received this reply:
“Thank you for submitting your video appeal to YouTube.
“After further review of the content, we’ve determined that your video does violate our Community Guidelines and have upheld our original decision. We appreciate your understanding.”
So, we expose hate speech and get banned for hate speech. We challenge anti-Semitism and get banned for violating Community Guidelines. To repeat, it really makes no sense. (On the lighter side, this would refute the conspiratorial idea that YouTube is owned by “the Jews.” I might as well conclude from this episode that YouTube is owned by “the Catholics”!)
The good news is that we have other ways to get our video out, and you can watch it for yourself here. And, since we reach so many people who differ with us on YouTube, we’ll continue to use the platform as long as we can, assuming they simply made a serious error this time around.
So, click here to watch our first-ever banned video.
I should also add that, for the record, I do not feel like a victim. I do not feel “persecuted.” No one is torturing me in a jail cell or chopping off my head. And, despite these minor bumps in the road, our message is reaching millions, and for that, I am grateful to God. Let the disagreements come!
At the same time, when something egregious happens, like the banning of our video, we will not sit idly by.
Finally, to Dr. Jones, my invitation remains open. Let’s do a formal, moderated, academic, public debate as to whether your views are anti-Semitic or not. Why not, sir?
See an error in this article?
To contact us or to submit an article
