Yui Mok / PA Wire/PA Images

Google has issued a public apology after a series of high-profile brands and the UK government pulled adverts from appearing on Google and its video site YouTube.

It follows an investigation by The Times that found adverts had appeared alongside hate speech and content uploaded by terrorists, sparking fears that UK companies may have been inadvertently funding terrorism.

On Monday, Marks & Spencer became the latest company to freeze ad spend with the global giant to “ensure brand safety” while the “matter is worked through”.

It followed similar moves by companies including Sainsbury's, HSBC, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland, McDonald&039;s, and L&039;Oreal. The UK government has also suspended advertising “pending reassurances from Google that government messages can be delivered in a safe and appropriate way”.

In a statement on Monday, Matt Brittin, head of Google for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, apologised. He said: “I would like to apologise to our partners and advertisers who might have been affected by their ads appearing on controversial content. We take our responsibilities to these industry issues very seriously.”

The company was, he added, “making improvements” to its advertising policies and “increasing investment in enforcement to act faster”.

Each minute hundreds of hours of content are uploaded to YouTube. Google only reviews content that has been flagged as inappropriate by its users, rather than proactively monitoring for content that falls outside its terms of use.

The internet giant, which controls 35% of the digital advertising market, has faced growing criticism in recent months for allowing hate content on the site and will be under pressure to offer a solution.

Last week, during a bruising two-hour examination of executives from Google, Facebook, and Twitter, MPs accused the companies of not doing enough to stop hateful material being shared on their platforms.

Quelle: <a href="Google Is Under Pressure Because Brands Are Pulling Adverts Over Hate Speech Fears“>BuzzFeed

21. März 201721. März 2017

da Agency

Laptops And Electronics Banned On Flights From Some Middle Eastern Countries

A Saudia airlines crew arrives at Washington Dulles International Airport on February 6, 2017.

Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty Images

At least two Middle Eastern airlines are telling passengers that laptops, tablet computers and other electronic devices are no longer allowed as carry-on items in flights headed to the US, citing orders from US authorities.

A representative of Saudi Arabian Airlines, based at JFK International Airport in New York, told BuzzFeed News that the ban begins immediately, and covers all electronic devices, excluding cellphones. They said it applies on flights headed to the US, but not on Saudi-bound flights.

The representative declined to answer further questions and said inquiries should be directed to the TSA. The Saudi daily newspaper Al Riyadh quoted the country's civil aviation authority as saying the ban applies to all US-bound flights from Saudi Arabia.

Details of the ban will be announced on Tuesday, NBC News reported, saying such changes to security rules “are made periodically in response to threat intelligence, and laptop computers have long been the source of concern.” The Guardian reported that the ban will apply to flights from 13 countries, and was announced to airlines on Monday via a confidential advisory from the TSA.

“There is a security concern regarding passengers boarding non-stop flights to the U.S. from some specific countries,” CNN reported, citing an unnamed US official. “The directive is to ensure enhanced security measures at select airports for a limited duration.”

The Transportation Security Administration referred inquiries to the Department of Homeland Security. A Homeland Security spokesperson told BuzzFeed News: “We have no comment on potential security precautions, but will provide an update when appropriate.”

Royal Jordanian Airlines informed passengers of a ban coming into effect on Tuesday. “Following instructions from the concerned US departments,” it said in a tweet, all electronics are banned on US-bound flights, with an exception for cellphones and medical devices.

That tweet has since been deleted. In a response to inquiries from BuzzFeed News, a representative said “further updates will be announced soon.”

Here’s the original, deleted Royal Jordanian tweet.

JFK-based representatives of Dubai&039;s Emirates Airline and Doha-based Qatar Airways said they had not heard of any changes. BuzzFeed News has reached out to other Middle Eastern and African airlines, and will update this article as responses come in.

Quelle: <a href="Laptops And Electronics Banned On Flights From Some Middle Eastern Countries“>BuzzFeed

This is what Facebook comments look like now:

YouTube apologized on Monday after several prominent LGBT video creators accused the site of censoring their videos with a filtering mechanism that flags and hides content as inappropriate.

The site’s “restricted mode” lets users filter out “potentially objectionable content,” the platform says, but some vloggers said it’s actually hiding pro-LGBT material.

Videos ranging from a makeup lesson for trans women to an LGBT couple reciting wedding vows were no longer visible after the filter was enacted.

Here’s the original, deleted Royal Jordanian tweet.