If the linked article has a paywall, you can access this archived version instead: https://archive.ph/zyhax
The court orders show the government telling Google to provide the names, addresses, telephone numbers and user activity for all Google account users who accessed the YouTube videos between January 1 and January 8, 2023. The government also wanted the IP addresses of non-Google account owners who viewed the videos.
“This is the latest chapter in a disturbing trend where we see government agencies increasingly transforming search warrants into digital dragnets. It’s unconstitutional, it’s terrifying and it’s happening every day,” said Albert Fox-Cahn, executive director at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. “No one should fear a knock at the door from police simply because of what the YouTube algorithm serves up. I’m horrified that the courts are allowing this.” He said the orders were “just as chilling” as geofence warrants, where Google has been ordered to provide data on all users in the vicinity of a crime.
The algorithm favors clickbait and dumb react thumbnails over regular videos because those are the videos that get “engagement”. Even if said “engagement” is writing a comment about how much the video sucks, it’s a win in YT’s book.
A major problem with media and algorithms today is exactly as you said. Engagement is engagement and they don’t really care if you’re raging or agreeing as long as you’re Interacting.
Anyone who enjoys those videos should also be banned. From the internet.