Google Denies White House Request to Remove Anti-Muslim Film From YouTube
The tech company restricted access in some Muslim countries but called leaving it up in the U.S. "consistent with principles."
Google on Friday denied a request from the White House to remove the mysterious, low-budget film trailer that has sparked riots across the Middle East from YouTube.
The Obama administration had hoped that the tech giant would find a violation of its terms of service in the 13-minute clip for Innocence of Muslims, which was produced by a man named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula.
STORY: Who Is Sam Bacile? Mystery of Anti-Islam Filmmaker's Link to Libya Embassy Riots Deepens
The company issued a statement late Friday saying that it would keep it up in most countries, though a few middle eastern countries will lose access to the clip.
"We've restricted access to it in countries where it is illegal such as India and Indonesia, as well as in Libya and Egypt, given the very sensitive situations in these two countries," Google's statement said. "This approach is entirely consistent with principles we first laid out in 2007."
Riots spread across the region on Thursday and Friday, leading to the burning of the American Embassy in Tunisia, clashes in Sudan and a death in Yemen.
On Sept. 12, Christopher Stevens, the American ambassador to Libya, and four other Americans were killed in the country's capital of Benghazi, during protests against the film.
THR's Daily Must Feeds
-
Leonardo DiCaprio Raises $1.5 Million at amfAR Cannes Gala
-
Watch 4 New Scenes From 'Arrested Development'
-
Mariah Carey: Wardrobe Malfunction on 'Good Morning America'
-
Director Responds To Boos For Ryan Gosling Film
-
'Rocky Horror' Actor Tim Curry Suffers Stroke
-
'Star Trek' Legend Rates New Movie
-
The Year of Rock: How the Former Wrestler Became King of the Action-Cinema Ring
-
James Van Der Beek on Putting 'Dawson' Behind Him and 'Don’t Trust the B’s' Hulu Finale
