YouTube recently removed the controversial documentary Plandemic featuring Dr. Judy Mikovits because the content violated the YouTube Community Guidelines. In their own words, a YouTube spokesperson said,
“We quickly remove flagged content that violate our Community Guidelines, including content that explicitly disputes the efficacy of local healthy authority recommended guidance on social distancing that may lead others to act against that guidance.”
That almost sounds like a reasonable content policy. Many people may even agree with that policy, but we do live in America where we believe in free speech. Personally, I question who decides “the efficacy of local healthy authority.” In fact, what is “healthy authority?” That spokesperson continued to say, “However, content that provides sufficient educational, documentary, scientific or artistic (EDSA) context is allowed . . . From the very beginning of the pandemic, we’ve had clear policies against COVID-19 misinformation and are committed to continue providing timely and helpful information at this critical time.”
To further YouTube’s socially conscience policy, YouTube CEO, Susan Wojcicki, added during a CNN interview, “Anything that is medically unsubstantiated, so people saying, like, ‘Take Vitamin C… take turmeric, those cure you,’ those are examples of things that would be a violation of our policy. Anything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy.”
So, YouTube is making medical judgments regarding treatments to determine whether they are “medically unsubstantiated” or, I suppose the converse would be medically substantiated. So, let’s be clear, YouTube is willing to substantiate medical treatments as part of the service they provide.
It’s hard to avoid sarcasm at this point, but instead, let’s consider YouTube’s position based on the advancement of medical technology. Up until the mid to late 19th century, that’s like 150 years ago, bleeding people was a sanctioned treatment for many illnesses and sterilization before surgery was not necessary.
Back to YouTube!
Based on YouTube’s policy, in the late 19th century YouTube would have taken down content that advocated washing before surgery and using antibiotics rather than bleeding people to cure their ailments. The bottom line is that if diversity of thought is good, which it is, then YouTube acting as self-appointed medical experts and taking down content that is not condoned by “healthy authorities” is a gross misuse of their service.
Susan Wojcicki should consider that her company is not the final authority on medical efficacy. Somehow, I don’t believe YouTube ever intended to act as the authority of everything, but that is what their policy advocates. In a recent article about how coronavirus has affected free speech, Tucker Carlson said, “more informed debate is exactly what we need to make wise decisions going forward. . .” Removing content other than pornography, illegalities, or libelous acts is contrary to embracing diverse thinking and the U.S. Constitution. In short, YouTube’s policy and community guidelines are simply un-American!