How Does ISIS Get Money? Islamic State, Terror Groups Funded By YouTube Ads

Terror groups like pro-Nazi Combat 18 and the Islamic State have been making money off advertisements from big brands like Marie Curie, Mercedes-Benz and Waitrose appearing alongside their YouTube videos and hate sites, a Times report revealed Thursday.

A YouTube video generates about $7.60 per 1,000 views for an ad, and some of the most viewed videos by extremist groups have had well over one million clicks. As a result, terror groups like ISIS are raking in thousands of dollars per month from big name companies whose advertisements are appearing next to their videos.

Google, which owns YouTube, has reportedly removed some of the videos. A spokesperson for Google said that the website removes “flagged videos that break our rules and have a zero tolerance policy for content that incites violence or hatred.”

“Some content on YouTube may be controversial and offensive, which is why we only allow advertising against videos which fall within our advertising guidelines. Our partners can also choose not to appear against content they consider inappropriate, and we have a responsibility to work with the industry to help them make informed choices,” the spokesperson said.

The Times reported that some of these advertisers included commercials from big names such as Thomas Reuters, Liverpool University and Honda. While a number of brands were uninformed and troubled about their advertisements appearing on these sites, six leading advertising companies refused to admit any fault.

Advertising on YouTube has proven lucrative for individuals trying to make a living off making online videos. “YouTube stars” – individuals with large followings of millions of people on the video website – make upwards of six figures through advertisements and brand deals. Stars like Jenna Marbles have made around $350,000 a year through videos posted on YouTube. However, the revenue earned on the website has varied per video views and the amount of money invested in the creation of a clip.