Many opposition activists already feel the international political world is turning against them as the Syrian government and its allies make major battlefield gains. Supporters and opponents of the Syrian government have waged digital wars reporting each other’s channels or videos, prompting YouTube to close some.In the Syrian context, that often turned political.But the closures’ suddenness and breadth stunned those documenting the conflict. But about 150,000 videos remain in jeopardy, pending a decision from YouTube, which is still reviewing whether to reinstate them, he said.YouTube previously relied in part on a system of community flagging of content deemed inappropriate.VDC, registered in Switzerland, has specialised in documenting rights violations since 2011
.Another prominent news platform, the Shaam plastic blow moulding machine manufacturer News Network, has nearly 400,000 videos on its YouTube channel, viewed some 90 million times.“Nothing is lost forever yet,” al-Khatib said, speaking from Berlin. In July, its operators found a message saying their channel no longer exists.Activists are rushing to set up alternative archives, but they also recognise nothing can replace YouTube because of its technological infrastructure and global reach. Meanwhile, the machine learning is being tweaked.”YouTube, which is owned by Google, says it will correct any videos improperly taken down and that it is in dialogue with the activists on a solution.”. The group is partially funded by Google through its Digital News Initiative.
As the conflict got bloody, so did the videos, catching the immediate aftermath of chemical attacks, spectacular aerial bombings, rescuers pulling children from rubble, and new strikes hitting rescuers and survivors. The shutdowns were chilling for a community that had just celebrated a possible precedent for Syria when the International Criminal Court in August issued an arrest warrant based on video evidence for a Libyan military commander.
Syrian activists fear all that history could be erased as YouTube moves to rein in violent content.One prominent Syrian human rights group, the Video and Documentation Centre in Syria, said it will stop using YouTube and will set up its own storage and platform.But not everyone can afford to go on their own. “But this is very dangerous, because there is no alternative for YouTube. Some were convinced the YouTube shutdowns were because of political pressure.
The group limited access to its YouTube channel since 2014, after the company warned it over graphic content.Activists used YouTube first to report on the peaceful protests that erupted in 2011 against the rule of President Bashar Assad, using videos taken on mobile phones. With a team of six and a budget of $96,000, the Archive is also downloading videos to its own server, an expensive and labour-intensive endeavour. Its founders are prominent activists, including one still missing after being kidnapped by gunmen in Syria.The Syrian Archive reached out to activists and media groups affected by the removal and contacted YouTube to restore them. But many activists fear a repeat or a permanent loss.