YouTube Bans All Content Spreading Vaccine Misinformation
This image can be enlarged by clicking the toggle caption Danny Moloshok/AP Danny Moloshok/AP
YouTube has banned misleading and inaccurate information about vaccines from its site.
In a Wednesday blog post, the platform explained that the current community guidelines that prohibit sharing medical misinformation have been extended to include "currently administered vaccines" that have been approved by the World Health Organization (and other health officials).
Under its COVID-19 misinformation policies, the site had previously prohibited content that made false claims about COVID-19 vaccinations. This policy has been extended to cover a wider range of vaccines.
According to the company, "We have seen misinformation about vaccines spread over to coronavirus vaccines over time."
YouTube claims it has taken down pages already
YouTube announced that it will now ban videos that claim vaccines don't work or are unsafe or ineffective. YouTube pointed out that videos that incorrectly describe vaccine ingredients were banned. It also made allegations that vaccines have properties that could be used to track those who are given them.
Some exceptions apply: Users can still share personal vaccine experiences, provided that they adhere to the site’s community guidelines.
YouTube removed anti-vaccination pages that were associated with prominent vaccine opponents Joseph Mercola and Erin Elizabeth, Sherri Penny, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Children's Health Defense organization, CNBC reported.
According to the company, widespread enforcement will take some time
Google owns the company. However, it warned that the removal of more videos could take time while Google enforces the policy.
Many conspiracy theorists started migrating to less-regulated platforms as big tech companies like Facebook and YouTube tightened their restrictions on vaccine misinformation in the last year. Slate reported that Rumble, another video-sharing website, is a popular choice for far right groups and other vaccine-resistant individuals.
Many conservative pages spreading misinformation about vaccines are still active on YouTube and continue to draw millions of viewers.
Editor's Note: Google is one of NPR's financial backers.
