YouTube Quietly Changes Covid Misinfo Policy on Masks, Vaccines

Google-owned YouTube’s Covid-19 medical misinformation policy was one of the more infamous and detailed instances of an online platform’s censorship of free speech—and accurate, scientific information—in favor of state-sanctioned lies and half-truths. But what is fascinating is that YouTube has quietly updated its policy in significant ways since April 2022, just four months ago.

The original policy had 71 bullet points and sentences restricting content, while the updated policy has 64. Any restrictions on content about masking and social distancing have been removed, while several restrictions on content about the Covid vaccines have been edited.

Removed restrictions include, “Claims that wearing a mask is dangerous or causes negative physical health effects,” “Claims that masks do not play a role in preventing the contraction or transmission of COVID-19,” “Claims that wearing a mask gives you COVID-19,” and bans on critiques of “Social distancing and self isolation guidelines.” YouTube also removed its ban on “Claims that the virus no longer exists or that the pandemic is over.” Perhaps the most significant of all was the removal of the ban on “Claims that COVID-19 vaccines are not effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19.”

So will there be any redress for those who actually stuck to the overwhelming evidence against masking, social distancing, and Covid vaccines?  Will there be any justice for those who spoke the truth?