Boris Johnson questions Google's willingness to address extremist content on YouTube
Boris Johnson has attacked Google for its failure to curb jihadist websites, mounting more pressure on the internet giant which could also be forced to cut advertising fees on YouTube in response to extremist content.
The foreign secretary accused Google of not removing terrorist material after being made aware of it.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, the foreign secretary said he was "furious" about Google and other internet firms for the way they financially benefit from terrorist content.
"It’s disgusting," said Johnson. "They need to stop just making money out of prurient violent material.”
He called for more "social responsibility" from web companies who he said have failed to remove terrorist propaganda and training manuals despite being made aware of them.
Discussing his view for a solution, Johnson said: "“They need to develop new systems and algorithms to detect this stuff and remove it. They are not acting when they are tipped off.”
He added: " Evil flourishes when good men do nothing — and that’s what’s happening here. They are putting up adverts next to it.”
His comments came as some of the world’s largest companies have pulled their marketing from Google, including HSBC, the Guardian and L’Oréal. A second wave of departures saw Starbucks, General Motors, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Walmart hault their YouTube ad campaigns.
According to the Times, advertisers are planning to leverage the issue to their advantage by demanding discounts from Google before they return to YouTube.
Last week at Advertising Week Europe Google announced a three-pronged approach to addressing the problem of ad misplacement and brand safety.