Youtube will begin removing videos containing ‘misinformation’ about all vaccines, not just Covid-19. According to The Guardian, “[Youtube] will take down content that contains misinformation such as claiming any approved vaccine is dangerous, causes chronic health defects or does not reduce the spread of disease.”
On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc’s Google announced it would extend its misinformation policy to include videos that question other commonly used vaccines that have been proven safe and effective by health authorities. These videos will be blocked from users.
Youtube had blocked videos in the past that made false claims about the Covid-19 vaccine but did not block videos questioning chickenpox vaccines, measles, and others. At first, they were just focused on ending Covid misinformation but, according to them, noticed that videos with false claims and conspiracy theories on other vaccines were leading to covid vaccine hesitancy.
Matt Halprin, the global head of trust and safety at YouTube, said, “Developing robust policies takes time,” Halprin said. “We wanted to launch a policy that is comprehensive, enforceable with consistency, and adequately addresses the challenge.”
Under Youtube’s previous policy, videos that contained what they deemed false information about vaccines were demoted or hidden from viewers. The new ban would include content claiming “vaccines cause cancer, autism, infertility, or microchips.” The talk about microchips in vaccines became a prominent false talking point in regards to the Covid vaccine.
Joseph Mercola and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are prominent anti-vax activists whose accounts will be removed from Youtube. Facebook claims they banned misinformation seven months ago but allowed Mercola and Kennedy to continue to be active. Youtube reported it took down more than one million videos containing covid misinformation, even if not directly tied to the vaccine. According to syracuse.com, “The video streaming platform also reduces some ‘borderline’ videos from appearing in search results and recommendations.” It does not specify what is considered “borderline.”
According to Halprin, the guidelines should still allow for personal testimonies on taking vaccines, discussions of vaccine policies, and historical failures in vaccination programs. The content cannot promote vaccine hesitancy or spread broad misinformation about vaccines. The Guardian reports, “As well as applying to falsehoods about vaccines for specific diseases such as hepatitis, the guidelines will apply to general statements about vaccines that are deemed to be misleading.”
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