SCOTTISH Government minister Humza Yousaf has spoken out after being targeted on a video-sharing website popular with the far-right, including Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
BitChute is host to a number of vile videos aimed at BAME Scottish politicians including the SNP’s Yousaf and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Yousaf has now hit back at the abuse, which was revealed in an investigation by the Scotland On Sunday newspaper, and called on media watchdog Ofcom to act.
In one video, which has now been taken down in the UK by BitChute, the Glasgow-born MSP is accused of being an “anti-white racist” who is “obviously not ethnically or racially Scottish”.
Another also since removed said the SNP aims to make “you and the foreigner one and the same” and called for the right to vote to be taken away from anyone of “ethnic minority descent”.
Anas Sarwar has also been targeted on the site
The video platform has been criticised as acting as YouTube for the far-right.
Yousaf told the paper: “I am sadly all too familiar with being a target of the far-right, be that here in Scotland or elsewhere.
“Over the years I have had threats made against me, my wife and even threats of violence made against my children, all because of the colour of my skin or religious affiliation.
“Scotland is not immune to this hatred and the content on BitChute aimed at Scottish audiences is deeply concerning.
“The recent tragic events in Plymouth serve as a timely reminder that online radicalisation can have devastating consequences.
“Ofcom must fully use their powers to penalise companies like BitChute who are peddling such harmful content.”
Other videos say First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is working for billionaire US philanthropists, suggest hundreds in Scotland are dying due to Covid-19 vaccines and spread anti-Semitic content.
Both Britain First and Tommy Robinson have channels on BitChute, with 1870 and 27,600 subscribers respectively.
An Ofcom spokesman told Scotland on Sunday: “We have been talking to BitChute to ensure it takes stronger steps to protect users from harmful content. Unlike in broadcasting, our powers around video-sharing sites don’t relate to specific pieces of content.
“But where companies are not doing enough to protect their users, we will not hesitate to use our powers to hold them to account – including significant penalties. We also urge users to report potentially harmful content to the service itself."
Measures taking include channel-wide moderation on repeat rule-breakers and automatic flagging of terrorist content.
BitChute said it was a “politically neutral company that welcomes people from all backgrounds and treats everyone equally”.
It said: “We work proactively to ensure our terms and ability to enforce them comply with regulatory requirements while upholding fundamental human rights.
“This year, we have expanded our moderation team and development efforts to support our growth and new regulatory requirements.
“It's essential for consumers that new competition can grow in a market that Google has monopolised, and this should happen in regulated regions such as the UK. Rather than pushing people to unregulated and unaccountable platforms.”
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