Even as many critics accuse major tech firms of holding an anti-conservative bias, YouTube announced this week that it would start cracking down on a specific type of content.
The video platform confirmed on Wednesday that it would begin removing “misinformation” pertaining to alleged fraud in the recent presidential election.
“Widespread software glitches or counting errors”
YouTube’s latest update came in the form of a post titled “Supporting the 2020 U.S. election” in which the company affirmed that such “harmful” material would be removed given the passage of the “safe harbor” deadline earlier in the week.
“Given that, we will start removing any piece of content uploaded today (or anytime after) that misleads people by alleging that widespread fraud or errors changed the outcome of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, in line with our approach towards historical U.S. Presidential elections,” the Google-owned company explained.
As examples of the type of content being targeted, YouTube said that it would remove videos alleging “widespread software glitches or counting errors,” promising to “ramp up” its efforts in that regard.
Thus far, the company has reportedly removed about 8,000 channels and thousands of election-related videos.
Furthermore, YouTube claimed that it aims to “protect” users from being exposed to “problematic” or “borderline” content in favor of promoting “authoritative” sources including mainstream media outlets.
“Relevant fact check information panels”
The company’s statement boasted that the content seen most prominently across the platform came from such sources and that search results were subjected to aggressive “fact-checking” measures.
“Since Election Day, relevant fact check information panels, from third party fact checkers, were triggered over 200,000 times above relevant election-related search results, including for voter fraud narratives such as ‘Dominion voting machines’ and ‘Michigan recount,'” YouTube added.
While the move will surely be heralded among those who seek to dismiss challenges to the recent election, many conservatives and supporters of President Donald Trump see it as the latest example of Big Tech interfering to support Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
For its part, Facebook recently altered its newsfeed to limit “misinformation.” Twitter has taken to flagging virtually any post alleging fraud had an impact on the election results.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) slammed YouTube’s decision in a tweet, accusing the company of “officially announcing free speech no longer allowed.”
The post YouTube reveals effort to remove 'misinformation' about alleged voter fraud first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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