[lorenzobr]

Surely though that's different from fake likes assuming the advertiser is aware of it.

I feel like YouTube by now is more similar to TV advertising, you take in consideration that people could just have the tv on in the background while doing something else or going around the house. Unless you don't know what you are doing with your advertising budget of course.

[nkrisc]

I don't if advertisers are thinking of it like TV but I believe you're right. Many people I know, including myself, leave videos running while working it gaming. It's not our primary focus, but it's there in the background.

Of course I run a malware blocker, I mean ad blocker, so I'm not seeing those ads served by malware networks.

[a_imho]

No, the problem is exclusive to autoplay (in fact, I recall youtube adding some click through pause into videos, but I don't see them now). I'm no advertiser, but simply introducing autoplay into the mix is kinda fraud imo.

With hindsight advertisers must be aware of fake likes and such too.