Google and Facebook crack down on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation
What you need to know
- YouTube now bans videos that spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
- It would still allow videos that offer discussion over "concerns" around vaccines.
- Facebook too no longer allows ads that discourage people from taking vaccines. However, ads that take aim at government vaccination policies are still fair game.
Google is coming down hard on COVID-19 misinformation as the race for a vaccine reaches a critical point worldwide. The company will start removing videos on YouTube which contain falsehoods and misinformation around COVID-19 vaccines on YouTube.
Citing a YouTube blog post, Reuters reports:
Google is not the only company to adopt a stricter anti-vaxxer policy this week. Facebook too announced that it would be banning adverts which were aimed at preventing people from getting vaccinated. "We don't want these ads on out platfrorm," the company simply said. It will keep allowing ads which critique government vaccination policies, but ads which are aimed at discouraging people from getting vaccinated are now outright banned.
"We regularly refine our approach around ads that are about social issues to capture debates and discussions around sensitive topics happening on Facebook. Vaccines are no different. While we may narrow enforcement in some areas, we may expand it in others," Facebook said.
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