Jeremy Vine criticises social media giants over stalker videos
BBC presenter Jeremy Vine has criticised social media companies over harassing messages posted by his stalker Alex Belfield on Twitter and YouTube.
He said of the tech giants: "They take down individual videos and then when he's convicted, they demonetised him.
"But half the videos about me are still out there. But the fact that YouTube hosts this stuff, they have no responsibility. They don't care."
Credit: @BBCNewsnight via Twitter
Video transcript
JEREMY VINE: I'm amazed at how hard it is to get them to realize. So we went to YouTube and said, come on. You know, what was going on with this guy? You can't allow him to just defame. Then we say, OK, there's a libel action now based on that video, that video, that video. They still won't take them down.
Eventually, we-- I had to go through a lawyer. They take down individual videos. And then when he's convicted, they demonetize him.
But half the videos about me are still up there. His technique was to say, copy and share. So you'll have someone who takes his video in Moscow and hosts it, and I'll-- you know, it'll always be out there. I've got to live with that.
But the fact that YouTube hosts this stuff, they have no responsibility. They don't care. They don't give a toss. They don't give a toss. Sorry for my language, but I am disgusted by their lack of values. And Twitter as well. You know, the guy still-- he's in prison, and he's still got a Twitter account. What the hell is that about? I don't understand it.
