YouTube has become replete with videos promoting conspiracy theories. Its artificial intelligence-based algorithms have sometimes even helped spread them. Sources said lawyers verbally discouraged them from being proactive about controversial content; they implied that if YouTube knew of the videos’ existence, their legal grounding would be weaker. A YouTube spokesperson contested Bloomberg’s accounts of Wojcicki being inattentive to issues. (Bloomberg)

Talking point: Executives chased the platform’s engagement metrics, regardless of whether the content being engaged with was incendiary or harmful to viewers, according to former and current employees who spoke to Bloomberg. YouTube is the latest Big Tech platform to be pressed for prioritizing growth over user safety. It parallels Facebook’s troubles with the spread of fake news and misinformation on its platform. However, in response to the backlash, Facebook has begun making dramatic shifts in its product. YouTube has yet to lay down similar concrete plans.