Far-right videos harassing asylum seekers viewed over 8m times in past month

A YouTube spokesperson said an investigation is underway into the analysed videos posted on its site. File Picture: PA

Social media videos from just three accounts targeting, harassing, and identifying asylum seekers have been viewed more than 8m times in only the last month.

Some of the videos posted on X and YouTube incite violence or encourage others to film asylum seekers, while others show violence against a group of Palestinian men involved in an eviction in Dublin City last week.

Two men were taken to hospital and one was arrested last weekend during the course of two separate disturbances at the same property.

Mark Malone, from the Hope and Courage Collective, said they have examined content from three high profile far-right social media accounts that "promote aggressive targeting of people seeking asylum".

"We looked at this type of content specifically because there is an obvious link between the promotion of dehumanising content, such as deliberately intimidating people outside emergency accommodation settings or where they are living in tents etc, and the rise of violent attacks on people seeking asylum.

"Yet far-right activists have been filming their aggressive encounters, while working with other high profile accounts to share these videos across social media platforms. All of which is deliberately designed to be broadcast in contravention of the law."

A YouTube spokesperson said an investigation is underway into the analysed videos posted on its site.

"Harassment and cyberbullying are not allowed on YouTube. That’s why we previously terminated [one of the men's channels] for violating our strict harassment and cyberbullying policies. 

"We have now terminated another channel associated with [the man] for violating our Terms of Service, which prohibit previously terminated users from creating any other YouTube channels," the spokesperson added.

'Careful review'

According to YouTube, two of the analysed videos featured on the now terminated channel. That means they have been removed from the platform and a "careful review" of the remaining flagged videos is ongoing.

A spokesperson for the Department of Integration said the practice is illegal and encouraged the public to refrain from sharing any videos.

"People applying for international protection have a statutory right to anonymity under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015.

"The department also asks that members of the public respect the privacy of people seeking international protection, and to refrain from sharing images or information on any platform that may compromise their right to anonymity under the International Protection Act."

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said gardaí should act on the videos, given that most are not posted under pseudonyms and use the real names of those who own the accounts.

"It is horrendous how vulnerable people are being repeatedly targeted, harassed, and intimidated on our streets for nothing other than being or looking like they are asylum seekers.

"People have a right to walk in and out of where they are living without facing the kind of abuse that many are now facing."