YouTube to censor content that violates
WHO guidelines
YouTube will implement a new "policy against medical misinformation" that will censor any medical or health-related content that does not match the claims made by the World Health Organization (WHO).
YouTube previously had a webpage called "Policy against Covid-19 Disinformation", which stated that the platform did not allow content "posing a serious risk of serious harm" and spreading "false medical information" contradicting statements by WHO or local health authorities (LSAs) on the Covid-19 pandemic. The webpage is now redirecting to a "policy against medical misinformation" page that extends the censorship rule to "specific health conditions and substances" rather than just Covid-19.
YouTube said the policy could be applied arbitrarily, as it "may not cover" all WHO or local health authority guidance on "specific health conditions and substances."
In an Aug. 15 blog post, YouTube wrote that it wants to "ensure there is a solid framework to build on when the need for new policies to combat medical misinformation arises."
"We will continue to follow the advice of local and international health authorities to ensure that our policies are adapted," the message reads. "We want our approach to be clear and transparent, so content creators understand where the policy boundaries lie, and users know they can trust the health information they find on YouTube."
YouTube has asked creators to avoid posting content on the platform that contradicts health authorities' recommendations on the prevention or transmission of certain diseases "or on the safety, efficacy or components of vaccines currently approved and administered."
Content that contradicts treatment guidelines, including the promotion of "specific harmful substances or practices" not approved by the authorities or WHO as safe and effective, will also not be allowed on the platform.
Any content that "denies the existence" of certain health conditions will also be banned.
This new policy is criticized for removing the free flow of information. Author Michael Shellenberger pointed out that the new rules adopted by YouTube "will censor you if you don't agree" with the WHO.
"YouTube acknowledges that the 'guidance' set by the WHO is subject to change. But if that's the case, the YouTube debate won't be the cause. YouTube is not a social media platform, it is a propaganda platform," he wrote in an Aug. 16 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Imagine if YouTube had existed for the last 200 years. He reportedly banned criticism of bloodletting, thalidomide, lobotomy and sterilization of the mentally ill, all of which were recommended by official health authorities. »
Misinformation about vaccines
Claims that vaccines cause chronic side effects "apart from rare side effects" acknowledged by health authorities will be considered "vaccine misinformation" by YouTube.
These include claims that an approved Covid-19 vaccine could cause "death, infertility, miscarriage,
autism or contracting other infectious diseases."
YouTube previously had a webpage called "Policy against Covid-19 Disinformation", which stated that the platform did not allow content "posing a serious risk of serious harm" and spreading "false medical information" contradicting statements by WHO or local health authorities (LSAs) on the Covid-19 pandemic. The webpage is now redirecting to a "policy against medical misinformation" page that extends the censorship rule to "specific health conditions and substances" rather than just Covid-19.
YouTube said the policy could be applied arbitrarily, as it "may not cover" all WHO or local health authority guidance on "specific health conditions and substances."
In an Aug. 15 blog post, YouTube wrote that it wants to "ensure there is a solid framework to build on when the need for new policies to combat medical misinformation arises."
"We will continue to follow the advice of local and international health authorities to ensure that our policies are adapted," the message reads. "We want our approach to be clear and transparent, so content creators understand where the policy boundaries lie, and users know they can trust the health information they find on YouTube."
YouTube has asked creators to avoid posting content on the platform that contradicts health authorities' recommendations on the prevention or transmission of certain diseases "or on the safety, efficacy or components of vaccines currently approved and administered."
Content that contradicts treatment guidelines, including the promotion of "specific harmful substances or practices" not approved by the authorities or WHO as safe and effective, will also not be allowed on the platform.
Any content that "denies the existence" of certain health conditions will also be banned.
This new policy is criticized for removing the free flow of information. Author Michael Shellenberger pointed out that the new rules adopted by YouTube "will censor you if you don't agree" with the WHO.
"YouTube acknowledges that the 'guidance' set by the WHO is subject to change. But if that's the case, the YouTube debate won't be the cause. YouTube is not a social media platform, it is a propaganda platform," he wrote in an Aug. 16 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Imagine if YouTube had existed for the last 200 years. He reportedly banned criticism of bloodletting, thalidomide, lobotomy and sterilization of the mentally ill, all of which were recommended by official health authorities. »
Misinformation about vaccines
Claims that vaccines cause chronic side effects "apart from rare side effects" acknowledged by health authorities will be considered "vaccine misinformation" by YouTube.
These include claims that an approved Covid-19 vaccine could cause "death, infertility, miscarriage,
autism or contracting other infectious diseases."
This policy contrasts with recent studies that show that Covid-19 vaccines can lead to death. In June, a study funded by the South Korean government showed that after administering a Covid-19 mRNA vaccine, eight people died suddenly from myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle.
All sudden cardiac deaths occurred in people aged 45 years or younger. One of the victims is a 33-year-old man who died just one day after receiving the second dose of the Moderna vaccine. A 30-year-old woman also died three days after being injected with the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Any content claiming that herd immunity resulting from natural infection is less dangerous than vaccinating the population will also be considered "misinformation" by YouTube. Other misinformation include claims that vaccines do not reduce the risk of contracting a disease and that vaccines could alter a person's genetic makeup.
The new rules "apply to videos, video descriptions, comments, live video streams, and any other YouTube product or feature," according to YouTube's post.
"These policies also apply to external links in your content. These can be clickable URLs, links to other sites offered by users in comments, or other forms of links," the post reads.
Abuse of power
In his X post, Mr. Shellenberger noted that opposition to poor medical or health advice usually comes from outside these professions. By banning criticism of mainstream discourse, YouTube's new policy risks triggering "blatant abuses of power."
It is also an "attack on freedom of expression, science and democracy," he added, noting that
"this is all part of WHO's blueprint for censorship of the world."
The WHO has also been criticized for its collusion with the Chinese Communist Party, especially at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the organization repeating the regime's arguments.
The WHO downplayed the effect of Covid-19, which eventually spread to 229 countries around the world
and claimed nearly 7 million lives, not counting China.
All sudden cardiac deaths occurred in people aged 45 years or younger. One of the victims is a 33-year-old man who died just one day after receiving the second dose of the Moderna vaccine. A 30-year-old woman also died three days after being injected with the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Any content claiming that herd immunity resulting from natural infection is less dangerous than vaccinating the population will also be considered "misinformation" by YouTube. Other misinformation include claims that vaccines do not reduce the risk of contracting a disease and that vaccines could alter a person's genetic makeup.
The new rules "apply to videos, video descriptions, comments, live video streams, and any other YouTube product or feature," according to YouTube's post.
"These policies also apply to external links in your content. These can be clickable URLs, links to other sites offered by users in comments, or other forms of links," the post reads.
Abuse of power
In his X post, Mr. Shellenberger noted that opposition to poor medical or health advice usually comes from outside these professions. By banning criticism of mainstream discourse, YouTube's new policy risks triggering "blatant abuses of power."
It is also an "attack on freedom of expression, science and democracy," he added, noting that
"this is all part of WHO's blueprint for censorship of the world."
The WHO has also been criticized for its collusion with the Chinese Communist Party, especially at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the organization repeating the regime's arguments.
The WHO downplayed the effect of Covid-19, which eventually spread to 229 countries around the world
and claimed nearly 7 million lives, not counting China.
YouTube's policy update comes as WHO has embarked on the drafting of an international convention on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. This convention will be part of the WHO constitution and will have legally binding and non-binding elements.
If this international convention comes into being, the WHO will be able to proceed with the implementation of containment measures and decide what characterizes this pandemic, define the modalities of testing, the results to be considered positive or negative and the drugs to be banned or approved.
In an August 16 commentary by The Epoch Times, Dr. David Bell, a medical public health specialist, points out that the response to Covid-19 has ignored common standards for epidemic management and human rights to establish a "regime of repression, censorship and coercion".
"Without taking the time to examine costs, the public health industry is developing international instruments and processes that will enshrine these destructive practices in international law," he said.
"Public health, presented as a series of health emergencies, is being used once again to
facilitate a fascist approach to the management of society."
If this international convention comes into being, the WHO will be able to proceed with the implementation of containment measures and decide what characterizes this pandemic, define the modalities of testing, the results to be considered positive or negative and the drugs to be banned or approved.
In an August 16 commentary by The Epoch Times, Dr. David Bell, a medical public health specialist, points out that the response to Covid-19 has ignored common standards for epidemic management and human rights to establish a "regime of repression, censorship and coercion".
"Without taking the time to examine costs, the public health industry is developing international instruments and processes that will enshrine these destructive practices in international law," he said.
"Public health, presented as a series of health emergencies, is being used once again to
facilitate a fascist approach to the management of society."
