YouTube, owned by Google, is set to allow creators whose channels were previously banned for spreading misinformation about Covid-19 or elections to apply for reinstatement. This marks a shift from the lifetime ban policy that has been in effect for several years, according to CNBC.
In a letter from Alphabet's attorney Daniel Donovan to U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, it was mentioned that the new program will operate in a pilot format and will include a limited number of creators, particularly those whose channels were removed under rules that are now obsolete.
This policy shift comes amid pressure from Republicans demanding that tech companies lift restrictions imposed during the Biden administration regarding vaccine and election content. In March, Congressman Jordan even summoned Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, accusing YouTube of "complicity in government censorship."
In 2021, YouTube committed to removing videos with false claims about vaccines, and during the pandemic, the company faced direct pressure from officials. Donovan called this "unacceptable and wrong."
In December 2024, the platform rescinded certain rules regarding Covid disinformation. At the same time, YouTube stated it would not delegate fact-checking to third-party organizations but would continue to add context below videos. A similar move was made by Meta, which halted its fact-checking program on Facebook and Instagram.
