YouTube has banned the posting of content challenging the efficacy and safety of vaccines approved by local authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO). This video hosting stated in its blog.
“Today, we are expanding our YouTube medical disinformation policy with new vaccine guidelines currently in use that have been approved and found to be safe and effective by local health authorities and WHO,” it said. YouTube clarifies that we are talking about any vaccines.
YouTube notes that in new videos and publications, the vaccines approved by the authorities will not be called dangerous. In addition, it will not be possible to say that such drugs cause chronic health effects, do not reduce morbidity.
“This includes content that falsely claims that approved vaccines lead to autism, cancer or infertility, or that substances in vaccines can track who they are being given,” the report said.
The rules on false vaccine information provide examples of inappropriate claims. These include claims that vaccines contain fetal material (fetal tissue or cell lines) and animal products.
At the same time, it will be possible to publish videos that violate these rules if they are supplemented with a context “in which information from local health authorities or the medical community is recognized.” You will have to add such content both to the video or audio sequence of the video, and to its title or description.
“In addition, videos created to condemn or challenge false information about vaccines may be tolerated. We can also make an exception for videos that show public comments on this topic, but do not promote false information about it, ”says the rules.
Earlier, on September 28, Google deleted two German YouTube channels of the Russian RT channel editorial staff without the possibility of recovery. The company indicated that the reason for this was content that violates the video hosting rules about false information on COVID-19.
At the same time, Roskomnadzor demanded to unblock the channels under the threat of blocking the entire YouTube service. The regulator pointed out that Google's actions are censorship and a violation of the key principles of the free flow of information.
