YouTube has introduced a new “medical misinformation policy” that will censor any medical or health-related content that doesn’t align with claims made by the World Health Organization (WHO).
YouTube earlier had a “COVID-19 Misinformation Policy” webpage that stated that the platform doesn’t allow any content that “poses a serious risk of egregious harm” and spreads “medical misinformation” contradicting what the WHO or local health authorities (LHA) say about the COVID-19 pandemic. The webpage now redirects to a “medical misinformation policy” page that expands the censorship rule to “specific health conditions and substances” rather than COVID-19 alone.
YouTube stated that the policy could be arbitrarily enforced, as it “may not cover” all guidance from the WHO or LHAs related to “specific health conditions and substances.”
In an Aug. 15 blog post, YouTube wrote that it wants to “make sure there is a robust framework to build upon when the need for new medical misinformation policies arises.”
“We’ll continue to monitor local and global health authority guidance to make sure our policies adapt,” the post reads. “We want our approach to be clear and transparent, so that content creators understand where the policy lines are, and viewers know they can trust the health information they find on YouTube.”
YouTube asked creators to avoid posting content on the platform that contradicts health authority guidance on the prevention or transmission of certain health conditions “or on the safety, efficacy or ingredients of currently approved and administered vaccines.”
Content that contradicts guidance on treatments, including promoting “specific harmful substances or practices” not approved by authorities or the WHO as safe and effective, also won’t be allowed on the platform.
Any content that “denies the existence” of certain health conditions would be banned as well.
The new policy is being criticized for suppressing the free flow of information. Author Michael Shellenberger pointed out that YouTube’s new policies “will censor you if you disagree” with the WHO.
