Google says it will add new parental controls (including algorithm-based filtering) to its YouTube Kids app, after inappropriate videos were repeatedly discovered on the service. David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab commented below.
David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab:
“These measures from YouTube are a step in the right direction. However, until YouTube has machine learning algorithms that can match human filtering, it shouldn’t be an option – or, at least, the human filter should be the default. According to Kaspersky Lab research, the average child spends 40 minutes per day, or 4.6 hours a week, watching online video content on a mobile device. With over half of parents (51 per cent) feeling that the online threats to their kids are increasing, it is crucial that YouTube has the right safeguards in place. It is also important that parents play a leading role in supporting their children and educating them about the threats and dangers of online life. We want to ensure that the freedom to explore through online devices can continue without sacrificing their emotional safety. The good news is that having parental controls in place and reviewing the default settings per app are two very small steps that we, as parents, can take.”
