- tech360.tv
YouTube Halts Removal of False Claims on U.S. Elections
YouTube updates its policies to allow the presence of potentially false content regarding the 2020 U.S. presidential elections.
Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) YouTube announced on Friday that it would no longer remove content that may have disseminated false claims concerning the 2020 and prior U.S. presidential elections.
These updates are part of YouTube's elections misinformation policy, which will be implemented immediately.
According to a blog post by YouTube, the decision to retain such content stems from the recognition that while removing it may address some misinformation, it could inadvertently limit political discourse. Nevertheless, YouTube maintains its commitment to enforcing policies against hate speech, harassment and incitement to violence across all user-generated content, including election-related material.
The rise in disinformation has sparked concerns about how social media platforms handle deceptive content related to elections. Twitter and Meta Platforms Inc's (META.O) Facebook have also witnessed an increase in the spread of false information during election periods.
YouTube will no longer remove content containing potential false claims about U.S. presidential elections prior to 2020.
The decision is aimed at preserving political speech while acknowledging the curbing effect of content removal on misinformation.
YouTube will continue to enforce policies against hate speech, harassment, and incitement to violence across all user content, including elections.
The proliferation of disinformation in election contexts has raised concerns about social media platforms' approaches to tackling misleading content.