YouTube refuses to remove anti-Asian song, drawing staff ire

The debate at YouTube is the latest example of Silicon Valley workers and executives being at loggerheads over the societal or moral implications of a company’s business decisions. — AFP

YouTube’s refusal to remove a song some employees find racist to people of Asian origin has caused a fracas inside the company, the latest clash in a growing national debate about anti-Asian hate.

Workers at Google’s YouTube recently posted on internal message boards to criticise executives who decided against taking down videos featuring the rap song Meet The Flockers, which debuted in 2014 from recording artist YG. The track, about a burglary, includes lyrics that encourage the targeting of neighbourhoods where Chinese people live.