In a major win for animals, YouTube has announced plans to ban all fake animal “rescue” videos from its platform, following a Lady Freethinker (LFT) investigation and months-long campaign that exposed the extent of the disturbing trend.
Thank you to the more than 46,000 supporters who signed LFT’s petition to end animal cruelty on YouTube. Your voices were heard!
LFT’s investigation in 2020 exposed horrifying videos where YouTubers placed innocent puppies and kittens near snakes only to “rescue” them moments later. The investigation identified at least 17 such falsified rescue videos across six YouTube channels with more than 41.7 million views over a period of months.
Our campaign was covered by global media including The Guardian, The Sun, and Insider.
We have since advocated relentlessly for the removal of the videos, accountability for the animal abusers, and justice for the animals. LFT Founder Nina Jackel said the ban — announced by Google on March 25 — is long overdue.
“We are very glad that YouTube will no longer allow these grossly inhumane videos on its platform,” Nina said. “We urge YouTube to share publicly the details of its new policy and its timing for implementation. If this policy is robustly implemented and enforced, this will be a true victory for animals and for the many activists and investigators who have exposed the truth about these cruel and dangerous videos.”
Google said its policy development team started a deep dive into animal abuse policies after noting a surge in the popularity of fake “rescue” videos and had been working for “a while” to create policies that would be robust and enforceable.
Colin Goulding, the company’s head of trust and safety, told Lady Freethinker in an emailed statement that the move is consistent with the company’s crackdown on abusive content.
“Our team responds quickly to emerging trends and we are constantly evaluating whether policies need to be further defined,” Goulding said. “YouTube has always had robust policies in place around animal abuse and harmful content that violates these policies is removed immediately.”
Unfortunately, this has not been LFT’s experience so far. Reported animal abuse content has remained online, in violation of YouTube’s community standards, while repeated requests for a phone meeting to discuss concerns have gone unanswered.
Since the original investigation, LFT has discovered dozens more channels with fake “rescue” videos, with hundreds of videos and millions of views. The videos are filmed cinematically, with perfect cutscenes and timing to make the content creators appear as “heroes” — whereas in reality, the fake “rescuers” are needlessly terrorizing animals to gain views, subscribers, and revenue.
LFT applauds the new announcement, but our work is far from over. We will continue the call for accountability for animal abusers who post cruelty on YouTube and justice for their victims.
To join the fight:
- Sign our petition if you haven’t already
- Report any videos you come across that show “fake” rescues or animal cruelty
- Alert advertisers if you see their company’s ads on videos promoting animal cruelty
What’s New…
There should be a petition to make animal abuse convictions much more severe than what most of the laws now permit.
A year in jail (MAYBE) and a $2,500 fine (RIDICULOUS). Laws are far too weak on animal rights. The punishment should fit the crime…an eye for an eye!
Stop animal abuse
You are quite literally celebrating a non victory. This article is nowhere near close to true. Many of these channels that have supposedly been taken down have been coming back. For example one in particular named pets rescue was taken down only to then start a new channel and strangely enough within a span of 1 month is already back to the subs he had before. Almost like he cheated the system or something. And he is only one. There are hundreds more that have been allowed back either via yt or via making new channels. Again this article is extremely premature and highly misleading.
Unfortunately, this is true. I have yet to see any positive change. Youtube loves its animal abusers and keeps them monetised. I’ve had years of reporting atrocious videos to become confident of that. They don’t care. They literally allow snuff and crash fetish on their platform, and youtube isn’t the only one. Animal abusers don’t even have to go to the dark web nowadays, because they are allowed pretty much everywhere else. I’m disgusted. Moderators, or whatever they are called, remove various political opinions and ban users who voice them, but have no problem whatsoever with helpless animals getting mutilated, tortured and murdered on camera.
Not everyone is in a position to donate. I’m offended that I can’t sign my support without doing so. I must question your legitimacy.
Ladyfreethinker, I tried to share the link about
that had info about all the investigations but facebook or Twitter aren’t able to be downloaded . I think that page is a word document.. could you put it as a google or Chrome page so I can share the work you guys are doing on Facebook pls? People need to KNOW WHATS GOING ON WHEN THEYRE ALL LIKING THESE PITIFULLY SICK VIDEOS.. I kinda figured there was a LOT of that stuff going on but I just couldn’t prove it. People are making money by abusing animals & birds & I wanted to share some of that info on the investigatiom link.
Cheets from an Animal lover in Australia
My comments on most of these r not good. They would ban me for my comments.tigers should not have to go thro torture for entertainment and make a profit. For what? Nothing. Ban the abuse of circus animals and let them go back to the habitat
This animal cruelty needs to be stopped!!!
Just stop this cruelty.
I’m signing LFT’s petition to end animal cruelty on You tube.
The sad thing a lot of these videos take place on country’s where there are zero animal welfare laws, and another sad thing is most viewers believe it. Please people if you see the fake rescue videos report! Things to look out for, fake thumbnails(pic on the video link) that never happens in the video, example would be a pic of a dog with a knife to it, but u never actually see that shot in the video so they have taken that before hand. Also just the fishy acting of the video, the fake first aid, no vets, same few people ‘adopting’ same actors!
This is disgusting. Some People are horrific.
Glad YouTube taking notice
I’m glad these animals are being rescued, but I’d also like to hear about the Perpetrators of these abuses prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!
Soulless, cruel perpetrators thrown in jail for at least 25 years without bond or bail.
Thank you if it’s TRUE.
“YouTube has always had robust policies in place around animal abuse and harmful content that violates these policies is removed immediately.” THAT’S A BLATANT LIE AND HYPOCRISY! I’ve been reporting several animal abuse videos for more than two years now. They are still online and monetised. There’s a monster woman who dissects sea creatures (octopuses and such) on camera and throws them back into dirty tanks badly mutilated but still alive, for example. And nobody gives a damn. At best I got some generic responses from youtube. Don’t hold your breath just yet. Things they promise can be very different to what we get as a result, because, from my experience, they just don’t care.
Finally! I’d like to say thank you but it took more than one petition to stop the torture of animals and protect them from mindless, worthless scum bags. Thank you to LTF for her relentless work.