Latest Breaking News

BumRushDaShow

(160,763 posts) Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:20 PM Wednesday

YouTube to start bringing back creators banned for COVID-19 and election misinformation

Source: ABC News/AP

September 24, 2025, 11:13 AM

NEW YORK -- YouTube will offer creators a way to rejoin the streaming platform if they were banned for violating COVID-19 and election misinformation policies that are no longer in effect, its parent company Alphabet said Tuesday.

In a letter submitted in response to subpoenas from the House Judiciary Committee, attorneys for Alphabet said the decision to bring back banned accounts reflected the company's commitment to free speech. It said the company values conservative voices on its platform and recognizes their reach and important role in civic discourse. “No matter the political atmosphere, YouTube will continue to enable free expression on its platform, particularly as it relates to issues subject to political debate,” the letter read.

The move is the latest in a cascade of content moderation rollbacks from tech companies, who cracked down on false information during the pandemic and after the 2020 election but have since faced pressure from President Donald Trump and other conservatives who argue they unlawfully stifled right-wing voices in the process.

It comes as tech CEOs, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, have sought a closer relationship with the Republican president, including through high-dollar donations to his campaign and attending events in Washington.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/youtube-start-bringing-back-creators-banned-covid-19-125894597

Ignoring scientific facts and promoting non-scientific nonsense IS "misinformation", regardless of "free speech".

15 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

YouTube to start bringing back creators banned for COVID-19 and election misinformation (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Wednesday OP

But, tik tok is the dangerous platform. Buddyzbuddy Wednesday #1

TicToc soon to be mainly owned by the second richest billionaire in the world womanofthehills Wednesday #10

Violent speech is not protected. Lucky Luciano Wednesday #2

9/11 Truth Channels were banned too Polybius Wednesday #7

Incitement to violence is not protected SickOfTheOnePct Wednesday #11

Antivaxx gets people killed. That's violence. Lucky Luciano Thursday #13

We'll agree to disagree as to whether words alone constitute violence SickOfTheOnePct Thursday #14

Remember way back when ... BlueWavePsych Wednesday #3

Oh, the putin trolls can get their old channels back but their new channels seem to be doing just fine. nt ImNotGod Wednesday #4

I am finding things on Internet Archives Marthe48 Wednesday #5

I got an ad yesterday... Chemical Bill Wednesday #6

cuz we need more misinformation and bullshit. Turbineguy Wednesday #8

I see. In the meantime, they just troll other channels, posting hateful, lying, niyad Wednesday #9

The whole situation brings back a line from the movie Sneakers mdbl Thursday #12

Denari uber alles! Miguelito Loveless Thursday #15

Buddyzbuddy

(1,564 posts)

1. But, tik tok is the dangerous platform.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:25 PM

Wednesday

womanofthehills

(10,405 posts)

10. TicToc soon to be mainly owned by the second richest billionaire in the world

Reply to Buddyzbuddy (Reply #1)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 10:43 PM

Wednesday

Zionist Larry Ellison - the largest independent donor to IDF. Plus he’s besties with Netanyahu and Trump. Kids will need to find another platform.

Lucky Luciano

(11,758 posts)

2. Violent speech is not protected.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:43 PM

Wednesday

Antivaxx misinformation can reasonably be argued as violent speech as it gets people killed.

Election misinformation is a bit more questionable. At the time, it was easier to argue that it was intended to incite an insurrection - ie violence. Now, though, it is just idiots blabbing.

Polybius

(20,912 posts)

7. 9/11 Truth Channels were banned too

Reply to Lucky Luciano (Reply #2)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 07:09 PM

Wednesday

I'm far from a Truther, but I used to watch these for entertainment. I never agreed when them being banned.

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,671 posts)

11. Incitement to violence is not protected

Reply to Lucky Luciano (Reply #2)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 11:16 PM

Wednesday

And misinformation about elections or COVID is not incitement to violence.

Either we think it’s ok for government to censor speech or we don’t. Unless we’re into hypocrisy, we can’t cheer Google or social media platforms for caving to government pressure to suppress speech, and then turn around and criticize ABC for doing the same thing.

Lucky Luciano

(11,758 posts)

13. Antivaxx gets people killed. That's violence.

Reply to SickOfTheOnePct (Reply #11)

Thu Sep 25, 2025, 12:28 PM

Thursday

The election conspiracy led directly to Jan 6 - violence and the attempt to overthrow the USA. Now, it wouldn’t lead to violence, sure, so let them have at it along with the flat earthers and moon landing nutcases.

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,671 posts)

14. We'll agree to disagree as to whether words alone constitute violence

Reply to Lucky Luciano (Reply #13)

Thu Sep 25, 2025, 12:30 PM

Thursday

I don't believe they do.

BlueWavePsych

(3,170 posts)

3. Remember way back when ...

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:50 PM

Wednesday

ImNotGod

(1,146 posts)

4. Oh, the putin trolls can get their old channels back but their new channels seem to be doing just fine. nt

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:55 PM

Wednesday

Marthe48

(21,934 posts)

5. I am finding things on Internet Archives

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Wed Sep 24, 2025, 06:07 PM

Wednesday

Seems like if we find what seems to be a safe haven on the Internet, the thugs invade it. Maybe relying on non Internet entertainment, like cds, tapes, VHS recordings, campfires stories, would save a lot of angst.