The judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak against YouTube for posting fraudulent videos of Bitcoin giveaways on his behalf.
According to the court ruling, the YouTube platform is not responsible for advertising fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Santa Clara County Superior Court Justice Sunil Kulkarnia explained that YouTube and its parent company Google are protected by Section 230 of the Media Decency Act, which exempts Internet platforms from liability for content posted on them by third parties.
Last July, Wozniak sued on YouTube for posting a fake video of a BTC distribution on his behalf. The attackers urged gullible users to send cryptocurrency to the specified address, promising to return them double the amount. Wozniak claims that YouTube never removed the video, which tarnishes his reputation. Thus, YouTube contributes to the development of fraud, earning money from targeted ads that are placed on video channels with high traffic.
“If YouTube were quick, it could be stopped and I wouldn’t be here. If YouTube sees such messages and does not ban criminals, then it benefits from this, ”Wozniak said.
The court considers that Wozniak’s arguments are insufficient to challenge YouTube’s Section 230 exemption. However, within 30 days, Apple’s co-founder may reopen the claim.
Wozniak is not the only entrepreneur fighting against the posting of fake videos on YouTube. In April 2020, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also filed a lawsuit against the site for publishing fraudulent videos about the “free” distribution of XRP, accusing it of deliberate inaction and lack of measures to suppress the actions of criminals posing as famous personalities.
A few months ago, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson filed similar charges against YouTube and Twitter. Hoskinson announced his readiness to leave all social networks if the situation does not change. Note that the court decision on Wozniak’s claim was made on the same day that Google allowed cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets to advertise their services for US citizens from August 3.
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