Allegedly Google is selling credit card information via Youtube videos, reports Digital Citizens Alliance, a non profit organisation that works towards safety and eradication of breaching issues on the internet.
Monday morning a report was filed saying Google was making money off advertisements around the videos posted by people wanting to sell credit card information that has actually been looted.
Tom Galvin, PR executive of the organisation is planning on increasing knowledge among companies ,that advertise via Google, about the issue and is quoted saying “raising their awareness to the problem and hopefully convincing them to urge Google to step up and take responsibility.”
“Having this kind of stuff on a mainstream site like YouTube and having ads next to videos — ads for Target, MasterCard or Discover — could be very confusing to consumers,”
says the D.C.based member of DCA.
Such a revelation regarding one of the worlds most visited websites raises questions on why law is not checking upon reputed sites such as Youtube.
Youtube though on its part remained mostly silent and gave dodgy answers. A spokeswoman on behalf of YT said that it was already removing videos that violate policies in large numbers every year.
“Our Guidelines prohibit any content encouraging illegal activities, including videos promoting the sale of illegal goods,” she said. “We also have stringent advertising guidelines, and work to prevent ads appearing against any video, channel or page once we determine that the content is not appropriate for our advertising partners.”
The exact identification of the NGO is still unclear as to who is running and funding it but this is not the first time that Digital Citizens Alliance is throwing such allegations. Previously too they had reported on illegal sale of drugs via Youtube videos and Google ads.