YouTube announced Wednesday that it will ban all anti-vaccine content. This includes misinformation regarding approved vaccines for common diseases and COVID-19.
Google's social media platform will delete any video that describes well-known vaccines as harmful. This was stated in a blog post that was first reported by The Washington Post.
This includes claims that vaccines can cause cancer, autism, and infertility.
YouTube had previously banned false information about coronavirus vaccines. This was in October 2020. According to the company, it will continue to allow discussions about vaccine policies and new vaccine trials as well as personal accounts of those who have received the vaccine.
Insider was also informed by a YouTube spokesperson that YouTube will delete the accounts of anti-vaxxers such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and anti-vaccine activist, author, and author Joseph Mercola).
Kennedy Jr. was among 12 individuals that a recent study found to be the most prolific online spreaders of COVID-19 disinformation.
Wednesday's introduction of new rules regarding vaccine content marked a significant change in the company's handling of content.
Matt Halprin YouTube's vice-president of global trust and security said that "developing robust policies takes time." "We wanted to create a policy that was comprehensive, enforceable and consistent with the challenges.
YouTube and other social media platforms have always taken a passive approach to moderating content.
However, regulators and the public have been pressing platforms to actively monitor disinformation on their sites in recent years. This is especially true given the 2020 presidential election and the pandemic.
Facebook and Twitter also took steps to stop the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 online.
Insider reported that false content still exists in private groups dedicated to discussing proven COVID-19 treatments such as the horse drug Ivermectin.
In 2020, companies began to crack down on Trump's false statements. This pushed the topic of content moderation on social media platforms into a political war.
Business Insider originally published this article.
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