Google defends hosting of anti-Islam film, saying 'answer to bad speech is more speech'

Sydney, Sep.27 (ANI): Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt has defended YouTube's hosting of an anti-Islam film, saying the answer to 'bad speech is more speech', not a ban.

Schmidt stressed that the low-budget video met YouTube's basic criteria for material that can be posted, which is why it remains accessible in many countries, The Age reports

"We obviously do not endorse the use of the video or these ideas, hatred or violence or anything, but we openly believe that the best answer to it is more speech, not the other way around," the report quoted Schmidt, as saying.

"Some countries disagree. There are some places where we had to actually block access to that video," he added.

YouTube, which is owned by Google, has blocked access to 'Innocence of Muslims' in various countries, including India, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Other countries, including Pakistan and Sudan, blocked the access themselves. (ANI)