With Kia and Hyundai thefts on the rise, insurance industry associations urge YouTube to remove “how-to” videos; they feel that you are not doing enough to stop the misuse of the platform
With theft of Kia and Hyundai cars rising dramatically in the United States in 2022, insurance industry associations say the misuse of social media platforms, such as YouTube, by individuals and criminal organizations is contributing to the increase in illegal activity.
To that end, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the International Association of Special Investigative Units have sent a joint letter to YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki requesting the platform to remove “how-to” videos that provide detailed information on how to steal Kia and Hyundai cars.
“Everyday consumers fall prey to criminals using social media platforms to learn their latest illegal tricks and techniques,” said David Glawe, NICB President and CEO. “Some platforms are not doing enough to protect innocent victims from unnecessary harm.”
The NICB statement notes that since these tutorial-type videos began appearing on YouTube, TikTok, and other social media platforms, many US police departments have reported dramatic increases in Kia and Hyundai thefts.
“Insurance fraud is the crime we all pay for. Posting videos like these hurts American consumers by increasing car thefts and increasing premiums. It is time for practices like these to stop. We can all play a role in fighting insurance crime,” said Matthew Smith, executive director of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.
“Allowing criminals to share the tools and techniques of their trade by posting videos online negatively affects all consumers,” Celeste Dodson, president of the International Association of Special Investigative Units, said for her part. “When a vehicle is stolen, it is often not the end of the crime but the beginning. Vehicle thefts are associated with a multitude of criminal activities, including insurance fraud. The cost of these crimes is then passed on to consumers through higher premiums.”
In the letter to YouTube, industry leaders note that other social media platforms, including TikTok, need to do more to prevent these types of videos from being shared. However, YouTube has failed to remove many of these videos from its own platform.