YouTube to Censor Content Contradicting WHO Guidelines

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YouTube has introduced a new โ€œmedical misinformation policyโ€ 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 โ€œCOVID-19 Misinformation Policyโ€ webpage that stated that the platform doesnโ€™t allow any content that โ€œposes a serious risk of egregious harmโ€ and spreads โ€œmedical misinformationโ€ contradicting what the WHO or local health authorities (LHA) say about the COVID-19 pandemic. The webpage now redirects to a โ€œmedical misinformation policyโ€ page that expands the censorship rule to โ€œspecific health conditions and substancesโ€ rather than COVID-19 alone.

YouTube stated that the policy could be arbitrarily enforced, as it โ€œmay not coverโ€ all guidance from the WHO or LHAs related to โ€œspecific health conditions and substances.โ€

In an Aug. 15 blog post, YouTube wrote that it wants to โ€œmake sure there is a robust framework to build upon when the need for new medical misinformation policies arises.โ€

โ€œWeโ€™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.โ€

YouTube asked creators to avoid posting content on the platform that contradicts health authority guidance on the prevention or transmission of certain health conditions โ€œor on the safety, efficacy or ingredients of currently approved and administered vaccines.โ€

Content that contradicts guidance on treatments, including promoting โ€œspecific harmful substances or practicesโ€ not approved by authorities or the WHO as safe and effective, also won’t be allowed on the platform.

Any content that โ€œdenies the existenceโ€ 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 YouTubeโ€™s new policies โ€œwill censor you if you disagreeโ€ with the WHO.

Byย Naveen Athrappully

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