A new report from the Tech Transparency Project reveals that YouTube is running ads on channels belonging to US-sanctioned Iranian entities, including government ministries and individuals accused of terrorism. The findings raise concerns about potential sanctions violations and advertiser complicity.
A new investigation by the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has found that YouTube is monetizing content from more than 75 channels linked to individuals and entities sanctioned by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The channels, which include those run by Iranian government ministries and sanctioned individuals, are showing ads from major brands such as Subaru, Verizon, TurboTax, and even US Customs and Border Protection.
Key Points
- Over 75 YouTube channels linked to US-sanctioned Iranian entities are monetized with ads.
- Ads from major brands and US government agencies appear on these channels.
- YouTube's policies prohibit serving ads to sanctioned parties, but enforcement remains unclear.
- Experts say the practice may violate US sanctions even if revenue is not shared.
Among the channels identified are those belonging to Iran's Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, where an ad for US Customs and Border Protection was observed. “That means YouTube placed an ad paid for with US tax dollars on a channel for an Iranian government ministry,” the researchers wrote. A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection stated that ads are placed through a third-party contractor and that they have raised the issue with YouTube.
The report also highlights channels associated with sanctioned individuals, including Babak Zanjani, who helped Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps evade sanctions, and Naji Sharifi Zindashti, accused of targeting Iranian dissidents abroad. Al-Mustafa International University, an Iranian seminary sanctioned in 2020, has at least four monetized YouTube channels featuring ads for companies like BJ's Wholesale Club and Warner Bros.
YouTube was officially banned in Iran in 2012, but the regime continues to use the platform for propaganda. Google spokesperson Nate Funkhouser said, “Google is committed to compliance with applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws. After review, we took enforcement action against the channels that violated our policies.” However, the company did not specify the actions taken or how many accounts were affected.
Kian Meshkat, an attorney specializing in US economic sanctions, noted that the channels include entities sanctioned under counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and human rights programs. He added that even if YouTube is not sharing ad revenue, providing services to sanctioned parties may violate OFAC regulations. The Treasury Department stated, “Technology companies should be aware of US sanctions and understand their compliance risks.”