YouTube took action on vaccine information, with new guidelines that prohibit videos to mislead the security of vaccination outside only Covid-19. These changes are built on the existing information policy on the existing youtube, expanding it to any content that “mispacites that vaccines are agreed to be dangerous and cause chronic health effects,” among other issues.
For example, videos that accuse that vaccines will not reduce transmission or contraction of disease, or which contain incorrect information around the substances contained in the vaccine, the word youtube. It includes the wrong claims that the approved vaccine causes autism, cancer, or infertility.
It also includes a stranger conspiracy theory. It includes allegations that are unfounded that vaccines are used to track people, through substances added by pharmaceutical companies, governments, or other institutions. Both general statements about vaccination, and false claims specific to certain immunizations such as for measles or hepatitis B, will be included in new guidelines.
The decision by YouTube is likely to be filled with significant pushback from several quarters, something that seems to be recognized by the video site from the start.
“The craft policy surrounding medical errors emerged charged with challenges and exchanges attached,” said YouTube today in a statement. “Scientific understanding evolved when new research emerged, and directly, regular personal experiences played a strong role in online discourse. Vaccines in particular have become a source of fierce debate for many years, despite consistent guidelines of health authorities about their effectiveness.”
Social networks and online videos proved to be a boiling pot for the theory of vaccine conspiracy and incorrect information, exacerbated by the development of the Covid-19 vaccine by Pfizer-Bionontech, Moderna, J & J, and others. YouTube launched a new policy that clamped medical falsehood around the Coronavirus response last year. Today, the company said, has removed more than 130,000 videos that violated the policy.
YouTube works with international and local health organizations and experts to develop expanded rules. They come into force today, although there may be several lags because they are fully enforced. Even when the process depends on speed, however, not every video you might think will be included in this new rule will certainly be deleted.
“Given the importance of public discussions and debates with scientific processes, we will continue to allow content about vaccine policies, new vaccine trials, and the success of historical vaccines or failures on YouTube,” the company explained. “Personal testimonials related to vaccines will also be permitted, as long as the video does not violate other community guidelines, or the channel does not show a pattern that promotes vaccine doubts.”
Those who are found to break the policy first of all will see their content removed, and get an email that tells them what happened and why. The first warning will not enter a penalty to the YouTube channel, but repeated offenders may strike. After 3 strikes within 90 days, the channel was stopped.
However, YouTube is also entitled to end the channel or account “after one case of severe abuse, or when the channel is dedicated to policy violations.”