Video Sharing Site Bans Terror Training Material

The popular video-sharing website YouTube has introduced new regulations aimed at purging the site of terror-related materials.

The rules forbid so-called "hate speech" (speech which attacks or demeans a particular nationality, race, or ethnic group) and gratuitous violence.  They also bar instructional videos on subjects like bomb-making and sniper attacks.

U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman praised YouTube's new guidelines, which he said should make it harder for groups like al-Qaida to post material on the site.  Lieberman issued a report earlier this year warning that the Internet plays a key role in recruiting and training terrorists, and in planning terror attacks.

It was not immediately clear how YouTube would enforce its new rules.  On Friday, videos on bomb-making were still readily available on the site.