Elon Musk hates “scam ads” on YouTube, echoing the frustrations of millions of Americans. His Twitter comments criticizing the Google-owned company are leading to speculation it is his next take-over target.
The world’s most innovative entrepreneur used a meme mocking a double standard in the video site’s practices. YouTube, he says, turns a blind eye to scam advertisements, while taking a hard line on swearing and using “truth checks” of political or Covid content on the platform.
It followed another post that read “YouTube seems to be nonstop scam ads.”
YouTube seems to be nonstop scam ads
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 7, 2022
“YouTube doesn’t allow spam, scams, or other deceptive practices that take advantage of the YouTube community,” the company states in its policies. “We also don’t allow content where the main purpose is to trick others into leaving YouTube for another site.”
YouTube scammers have targeted Musk’s followers. According to cybersecurity firm Tenable, a series of cryptocurrency scams had run on the platform in May 2021 ahead of the Tesla and SpaceX founder’s appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” leading to a theft of over $9 million. The scammers promoted a fake SpaceX digital coin claiming to be created by Musk.
Musk’s recent two posts have sparked discussion on Twitter as users, including conservative comedian Steven Crowder, suggested a possible takeover of YouTube—referencing his initial attacks on Twitter before making an offer of acquisition.
“Please buy YouTube and restore it to its former 2016 glory,” political commentator Lauren Chen wrote in response.
Please buy YouTube and restore it to its former 2016 glory https://t.co/IN2RYSLBX3
— Lauren Chen (@TheLaurenChen) June 7, 2022
Musk continues to blame Twitter for “resisting and thwarting” his ability to obtain information about bot accounts on the social media website, calling it a “breach” of the terms of their previous deal.
“My offer was based on Twitter’s SEC filings being accurate,” Musk wrote on Twitter on May 17. “Twitter’s CEO publicly refused to show proof of <5%. This deal cannot move forward until he does.”
–wire services
