Google has made millions of pounds in advertising revenue from videos that exploit young children and appeal to paedophiles, experts say.
Iceland, O2 and Which? are among companies to have suspended advertising on the YouTube video platform after an investigation by The Times showed that their brands were appearing on clips in which youngsters were distressed and in “inappropriate” and “disturbing” scenarios.
One channel called Toy Freaks has attracted seven billion views since its launch in 2011. Its videos included one of a seven-year-old girl bleeding from the mouth and crying after losing a milk tooth. Others showed the girl and her nine-year-old sister wearing baby clothes, sucking dummies and being terrified by live snakes.
YouTube shut down Toy Freaks yesterday, saying that it “violated”
