Sydney/ Web Desk:
According to BBC, YouTube said on Sunday it had barred Sky News Australia from uploading new content for one week, citing concerns about Covid-19 misinformation.
The move comes after a review of posts uploaded by the Rupert Murdoch-owned TV channel, which has a substantial online presence with 1.85 million YouTube subscribers.
YouTube did not point to specific items but said it opposed material that “could cause real-world harm”. It issued a “strike” under its three-strike policy, the last of which means permanent removal.
“We have clear and established Covid-19 medical misinformation policies to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm,” a YouTube statement said.
Sky News confirmed the temporary ban and the TV channel’s digital editor said the decision was a disturbing attack on the ability to think freely.
The last YouTube upload, from three days ago, features a host claiming that lockdowns have failed and criticizing state authorities for extending Sydney’s current stay-at-home orders.
Youtube has banned several channels over the past two years for spreading misinformation regarding Covid-19.
This post was originally published on VOSA.
