Google-owned YouTube is threatening to ban any users who question the effectiveness of face masks.
Buried in the Big Tech platform’s “COVID-19 medical misinformation policy” are clauses that allow YouTube to deplatform anyone who dares contest information about masks or “contradict local health authorities or WHO.”
“Claims that wearing a mask is dangerous or causes negative physical health effects” and “Claims that masks do not play a role in preventing the contraction or transmission of COVID-19” both violate the Big Tech company’s “misinformation” terms and conditions. Later in the policy, YouTube clarifies that “Claims that wearing a mask causes oxygen levels to drop to dangerous levels,” “Claims that masks cause lung cancer or brain damage,” and “Claims that wearing a mask gives you COVID-19” will also be punished.
Other censored terminology and phrases include “Content that recommends use of Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19” and “Claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will cause death, infertility, miscarriage, autism, or contraction of other infectious diseases.”
Any content that is deemed unacceptable under these terms could be punished with removal and a strike.
Repeat violators are subject to losing their channel or account. “If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here,” the policy notes.
“We may also terminate your channel or account after a single case of severe abuse, or when the channel is dedicated to a policy violation,” YouTube states.
In the policy, YouTube reserves the right to grant an exception to violating videos “if that content includes additional context in the video, audio, title, or description.”
“This is not a free pass to promote misinformation,” YouTube claims.