Going forward, YouTube will ban any kind of content which makes contradicting claims related to COVID-19 vaccines in comparison to consent from the World Health Organization (WHO) or local health authorities. It already takes off videos which dispute the COVID-19 transmission and encourage medically unverified methods of treatment.
Earlier, YouTube had banned and down-ranked posts which were not verified; it has now banned misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines in addition to its previous policy. Claims which were banned included that the vaccine could cause infertility in people and cause death. Another wrongful claim was that the vaccine might somehow implant a microchip in a recipient.
Youtube mentioned that it has already deleted about 2 lakh misleading videos concerning coronavirus since February. Youtube intends to enforce the new rules in the coming weeks; however, a few advertisements will still be displayed in the meantime.
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On the other hand, Facebook also has come up with a global policy for banning any kind of content which demotivates people from getting vaccinated. Facebook also has an existing policy which does not permit advertisements about vaccine hoaxes which have been identified publicly by prominent global health organisations, such as WHO and other US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the coming weeks, YouTube will be implementing more steps to highlight authoritative information concerning COVID-19 vaccines on its website.
For any clarifications/feedback on the topic, please contact the writer at bhavana.pn@cleartax.in
Bhavana is a Senior Content Writer handling the GST vertical. She is committed, professional, and has a flair for writing. When away from work, she enjoys watching movies and playing with her son. One thing she can’t resist is SHOPPING! Her favourite quote is: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”.
