YouTube to remove all content containing anti-vaccine misinformation

Dimapur, September 29 (EMN): YouTube will remove all content containing anti-vaccine misinformation, specifically about vaccines that have been approved by local health authorities or the World Health Organization, the company announced in a blog post on Wednesday.

The popular video platform has said that it has “consulted with local and international health organizations and experts.” The company has warned its users to refrain from uploading content that “falsely alleges that approved vaccines are dangerous and cause chronic health effects, claims that vaccines do not reduce transmission or contraction of the disease, or contains misinformation on the substances contained in vaccines.”

However, YouTube will allow content pertaining to vaccine policies, vaccine trials and personal testimonials relating to vaccines as long as the content does not violate established community guidelines.

In a blog post, YouTube wrote, “All of this complements our ongoing work to raise up authoritative health information on our platform and connect people with credible, quality health content and sources.

YouTube deletes RT's German channels over COVID misinformation https://t.co/qYCQHRdpAn pic.twitter.com/2C7cv2PLZv

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 28, 2021

“Today’s policy update is an important step to address vaccine and health misinformation on our platform, and we’ll continue to invest across the board in the policies and products that bring high-quality information to our viewers and the entire YouTube community,” it said.

YouTube, as well as Facebook and Twitter, have been criticised for allowing the spread of anti-vaccine misinformation on their platforms. In response to the backlash, Facebook formally banned vaccine misinformation content in February and YouTube has removed more than 1,30,000 videos for violating rules about Covid-19 vaccines since last year.

Despite YouTube’s renewed pledge to tackle misinformation on its platform, its recent policies have not been received positively by all. On Tuesday, YouTube removed German channels of Russian state broadcaster RT, a move that Russia described as “information warfare.”

The Kremlin has since demanded YouTube to restore the channels, saying that it will be forced to adopt harsh retaliatory measures against the Alphabet-owned platform.