Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I flag a terrorist video?
A. Follow these simple instructions.

Q.Does this really work?
A. Yes. Because we are an organized group, we maximize our flagging efforts. Like a pack not a herd. Don't believe us? Go check out the suspended user list at Quoth the Raven.

Q. I want to help flag these videos but I don't want to watch. Do I have to see the whole video to flag it?
A. You can hit pause as soon as the page loads. We watch the videos so you don't have to.

Q. If I flag these videos, can the terrorists find me? Will I be safe?
A. Yes you will be safe. Flagging is a totally anonymous procedure. Be aware however, if you leave comments on the users video, everyone will know whose profile the comment came from. You might want to alter your profile to remove any identifying information if you plan on doing it a lot - for instance you might find it "interesting" to use google translate to leave nasty comments in arabic.

Q. If YouTube requires me to sign in, how is that anonymous?
A. Anonymous in the sense that the particular user you are flagging has no idea where the flags come from. YouTube requires you to sign in to flag to prevent abuse of the system.

Q. What is google translate?
A. Google translate is a simple tool we use to translate other languages to English. We will copy the title of a video and paste it into GT and then get the gist of what the video is about. We also use it to leave comments on the users video by typing the message we want to convey in English, and having it translated to arabic, and then pasting that into the comment section. Sometimes what we might want to say gets lost in translation so it can be helpful to translate it back to English to see what it might say.

Q. Can I send you a link to a terrorist video?
A. Yes, you can. Simply click the submit a video to SDC link under SMACKDOWN tools. Before sending us a link, please review the following criteria.

  • First, it must be a YouTube video.
  • It must be what we call an actionable video, meaning it contains graphic violence, bomb-making footage, executions, sniper/Juba videos, etc.
  • The video must pertain to The Long War, especially Iraq, Afghanistan and alqada?
  • We receive many submissions a day and can't get back to everyone who sends one in.

We appreciate all the leads sent to us. Please don't be upset if we don't get back to you -- we are just that busy!!

Q. If someone has their videos "private" can they still embed them on other sites?
A. Yes they can, but only friends of the user who are logged into YouTube can view the video. We keep an eye on those users who make their videos private.

Q. How many videos can a user have removed before they are suspended?
A. According to YouTube, three TOS violations within six months is grounds for suspension. See the YouTube General Policy Enforcement page.

Q. So and so user has had five videos removed and he is not suspended. What gives?
A. We don't know. If you find out, we would like to know. Please send us an email.

Q. This is a great idea, how can I join?
A. If you're flagging the videos we post, you are already a member! Thanks for your help! If you would like an email reminder to flag one video a day, subscribe to our jihadi SMACKDOWN of the day email alert. If you would like to start a site dedicated to Operation YouTube SMACKDOWN, drop us a line and be prepared to tell us a little about yourself.

Q. I already have a web site dedicated to Operation YouTube SMACKDOWN, how do I join the Corps?
A. Drop us a line and be prepared to tell us a little about yourself.

Q. I don't want to start my own site, but I would like to be more involved. What else can I do to help SDC?
A. We are always looking for volunteers. There are many opportunities to help out. Drop us a line, telling us about yourself and some of the things you might be interested in doing.

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