Breaking: Is the Church of Scientology Suppressing Free Speech? YouTube Removes More Videos
There are so many elements to how voting and internal promoting is done on social media sites, like YouTube, Digg, Propeller, Reddit and so on, that I couldn’t begin to comprehend how it all works.
This, however, does not mean there isn’t something strangely coincidental about certain videos being removed from YouTube. As I understand, videos are promoted and pushed to the front page based on views and a voting/rating system.
A few weeks back, the internet activist group calling themselves “Anonymous” released a video on YouTube in response to the infamous Gawker/Tom Cruise Scientology video showdown.
Initially, YouTube pulled the clip featuring popular actor and Scientology spokesperson Tom Cruise who was featured in a video that was intended to be shown in Scientology centers exclusively. The CoS lawyers served YouTube with a cease and desist letter, and the video was subsequently pulled from the site.
Gawker, on the other hand, ignored the letter from Scientology and continues to host the video on their site.
After this public flap, Anonymous released their own video in essence airing their grievances with CoS and stating their intentions to “dismantle” the organization for its various alleged abuses, number one being a systematic suppression of free speech.
Since this first video appeared, there have been several tit for tat videos and copycats popping up all over YouTube, but with the original one titled “Message to Scientology” receiving over 2 million views.
Now, the current issue is that video has been removed completely from the site (though several anonymous members have posted mirror versions of the video since, in their own effort to stop what they deem as heavy-handed attempt to suppress not only the video, but free speech.)
Yesterday, YouTube released a statement regarding the stalled voting and rating on these videos were due to a programming glitched rather than some internal effort on their part. But since then, it seems videos have been popping up and subsequently disappearing left and right, which would indicate a much more direct involvement by YouTube rather than a bug in their algorithms.
YouTube statement:
There was an issue with video view counts not increasing that has now been resolved. The correct number of views should be displayed in the next 24 hours. Thanks for your patience.
The top video is from ex-Scientologist and outspoken critic Tory Magoo discussing the CoS efforts to suppress free speech.
Here is the link to the original Anonymous video with have over 2 million views. It has been removed as you can see.
In all fairness, the video is still available on YouTube, as it continues to be uploaded by other members in response to the removal. Below is a mirror of the original video:
At this point, I don’t know what terms the original video violated. If anyone is aware, please feel free to post in the comments sections if there are any official statements from YouTube. This is a story in progress, so bear with me for my brief summary of events.
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If anyone wants to vote:
http://reddit.com/info/68vwq/comments/
http://www.digg.com/tech_news/More_Scientology_Free_Speech_Suppression_YouTube_Pulls_Vids
Be sure to copy entire digg url. Thanks.
Comment by D — February 15, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
hey, Sylver, I know you’re out there lurking.
So, now will you admit that the Church of $cientology has committed wrongs?
Will you at least admit that Operation Freakout was a horrendous wrongdoing?
Now’s the time to show you have a sense of decency.
Comment by Narcissus — February 15, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Or, to put it in terms familiar to $cientology thugs …
What are $cientology’s crimes?
What are $cientology’s crimes?
What are $cientology’s crimes?
Comment by Narcissus — February 15, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
Fixed link.
http://www.digg.com/tech_news/More_Scientology_Free_Speech_Suppression_YouTube_Pulls_Vids
Comment by Anon — February 15, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Err, that last link is not a link to any kind of “original anonymous video”. It’s a link with a personal session marker in it, which will not work on any machine except whoever first accessed it.
Just look at the link, it does not have the same format as normal Youtube links at all.
Comment by Anonymous — February 15, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
I wonder what the hell OSA is calling this plan of theirs. “Operation: Leave a proverbial flaming bag of dog shit on the Internet’s doorstep”?
Comment by Anonymous — February 15, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
Youtube put the video back up!
The original message to Anonymous has returned
That said, the view freeze is still highly suspect.
Comment by LRonHubbub — February 15, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
Read about a major CoS goof (”Scientology accidentally faxes their attack instructions to a reporter”) in Britain at cultxpt.wordpress.com
Comment by Xenudo — February 15, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
I think they put it back up. This has 2 million+ views:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCbKv9yiLiQ
Comment by Anonymous — February 16, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Hey D,
I actually got an email response from Youtube after sending a concerned email (that was kept polite and well-formed)
“Hi there,
Thanks for your email.
The video in question, “Message to Scientology” was taken down due to an
error.
This video has been restored. The video was removed in error while we were
removing other content. It was not a Terms of Use violation, nor was it an
attempt at censorship. I apologize for the misunderstanding and hope you
continue to enjoy your time on our site.
Regards,
Sam
The YouTube Team”
Comment by Anonymous — February 16, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
CO$ must be so pissed that they are a sci-fi cult that can’t handle the latest technology…
Ever since the internet was just a bunch of scientists gossiping, CO$ has been taken for a hiding.
The CDC was very much using their talents to upset CO$ - and today, Anonymous takes it on.
Just remeber - CO$ wants to ‘clear’ the planet - and that doesn’t involve being tolerant and accepting of other beliefs other than their own flawed vision.
Stop them peacefully - before they start shooting.
Comment by beebee — February 17, 2008 @ 9:42 pm
Oh - and when Sylver talks about the CO$ ‘Purification Rundown’, and how he experienced past sun burns – Not true. His body was just reacting to a toxic dose of niacin that causes dilation of peripheral blood vessels, redness, and skin irritation. ALSO, Niacin reduces lipids in your bloodstream - so kinda defeats the whole purpose as outlined by LRH ‘Clear Body, Clear Mind’ reasoning – The suggestion by LRH that the CO$ detox causes people to re-experience past trauma is cute, but NOT TRUE. Hopefully Sylver doesn’t have the liver damage, peptic ulcers, hyperglycemia and cardiac arrhythmias to go with it.
CO$ is dangerous to your mental and physical health. Do not try their Kool-aid.
Educate yourself, and others to the lies that CO$ spread.
Defeat CO$ with the TRUTH.
Comment by beebee — February 17, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
“Hopefully Sylver doesn’t have the liver damage, peptic ulcers, hyperglycemia and cardiac arrhythmias to go with it.”
Given his conduct on this website, maybe I hope he does.
Comment by Narcissus — February 18, 2008 @ 10:08 am
“Anonymous had built up enough excitement via its many submissions to Digg, Reddit, YouTube and more sites that they had many non-members voting for them too.”
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/080217-154255
Hmmm, so much for those ‘millions’ of $cientologists…
Comment by beebee — February 18, 2008 @ 8:54 pm