YouTube CEO Says Platform Will Remove Coronavirus Content That Goes Against WHO Guidelines

YouTube CEO Says Platform Will Remove Coronavirus Content That Goes Against WHO Guidelines

In a recent interview with CNN, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said the platform will begin banning content that promotes any unproven or fake treatments for coronavirus. In addition, the platform will seek to block any content that "goes against" WHO guidelines on the pandemic.

YouTube has already banned videos that attempt to claim connections between 5G technology and coronavirus, with the latest move introducing more restrictions. In a recent interview with CNN, CEO Susan Wojcicki said the platform would remove "problematic" content related to the pandemic and "anything that is medically unsubstantiated" in an attempt to battle misinformation that places people at serious risk. For example, content that peddles unsubstantiated herbal cures for coronavirus will be removed. It is not clear how YouTube will police its massive library of content that grows substantially every day or where exactly it will draw the line given that health authorities are not in full agreement about some aspects of the pandemic, though the move seems designed more to combat extreme misinformation. Earlier this year, the company had announced plans to demonetize any videos discussing coronavirus, but it quickly went back on the decision after heavy resistance from the platform's creators. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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65 Comments

Good!

That is all.

If you like things with censorship and a strong paternal hand, you'll love North Korea.

I have heard their Dear Leader keeps a watchful eye on his excellent policies to make sure that photographers do not corrupt the general public - perhaps our much beloved citrus and these new attitudes by American companies are glittering signs of hope that one day this paradise will extend to our brilliance and shiny nation as well.

Did you think of that fallacy of relative privation all on your own? It's not even a well-executed fallacy.

Also, a brand new troll account.

Says the guy with 7 downvotes, with not a hint of self awareness or irony.

And there we have an appeal to popularity. You're not very good at this.

This isn't a formal debate, rainman.

How incredibly disappointing you are; how is it you manage to function in society without a full-time carer? I suppose even a moron with a menial job can survive by living in a share house and eating noodles.

You idiots want to turn it into some sort of point scoring troll then become dismissive when it becomes clear you are stupid.

If you want to get under a person's skin then you need to ensure what you are saying contains even the slightest hint of accuracy as it pertains to the psychology (or other attribute) of your interlocutor.

Profile fail.

How about you try again. You can do better.

Also, morons commenting on politics, who can't think beyond the incredibly narrow and hyper-partisan US "conservative" and "liberal", owing to a complete failure of education, are not worth anyone's time.

Oh wait, do you actually believe that somewhere in that failed ad hominem exists an argument?

You are even more stupid than I credited you for. It's hardly surprising that my response went way over your head. You're the sort of idiot who would try and argue about advanced physics against a physicist and then complain when they point out you lack the math or physics education to have an entry level conversation. Have you met my friends Dunning and Kruger?

Try again. Try harder.

Which party represents high school dropouts? Hopefully not any of the dumb libs. I'm one (only got to junior) but I'm doing just fine for myself! Why did you put felons with high school dropouts? I'm confused. Their not the same.

Look I hate some of those crazy libs too, but you are saying some mean things that lumps a bunch of people together that you shouldn't. Not all dems are bad, just the crazy libs. Theyre are crazy reps too! You are really angry an it shows. I hope you find Jesus and stop being so hateful: it makes you look like an ugly person. And I know you can be better!

I heard North Korea isn't that great of a place to live. Why do you like it there and what makes it a paradise?

Seriously?

Oh ok. About what?

Seriously what? I don't understand.

Besides covering for CCP, which is why we have this level of disaster in the first place, we have gems like this "WHO stands by recommendation to not wear masks if you are not sick or not caring for someone who is sick"(https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/world/coronavirus-who-masks-recommendatio...) Letting a platform editorializing and enforcing "Remove Coronavirus Content That Goes Against WHO Guidelines", what could go wrong?

Also let's delete Sweden off the internet, since they are not following WHO.

Sweden has the highest death rate per capita among the Nordic countries and the 11th highest per capita in the world, all on a gamble that has no scientific basis. Sweden has 217 deaths per/m and the US by contrast 167. The UK, which started out on the Swedish model, has 305 per/m. There is presently no evidence someone who has had the disease will be immune to re-infection, and there can be lasting heath effects for some of those who are infected. But as with all things, facts must be muddled by political considerations.

I'm merely pointing out the statistics. Compare Sweden's death rate of 217 p/million to California's which is 46 per/million. And as noted, there is no known immunity to the virus for those who have been infected. You are correct, some don't care about others losing their life, as long as they figure they won't be among them.

What about 5G? I heard the towers do this. Gotta get rid of them, then we can go outside again. I think the Chinese made the towers, so theres a big connection, right?

An anonymous account trolling political junk on a photography site. I'm impressed neither by your lack of facts nor your political agenda.

Lord knows we don’t need the idiotic masses thinking for themselves...

Facebook is also deleting accounts of groups trying to organize lockdown protests.

Those who feel that any of these companies owe anyone free speech are deluding themselves. Just as when companies agreed to hand over their IP to Chinese companies and then whine about it later, so too are those who agree to TOS and hand over all their personal data for free and then complain that they are being censored.

The fact is that these companies are proactively going after speech they see as imperiling their autonomy if enough legislators get mad and pass laws holding them liable for content.

why remove? disinfectants and uv in the body will clean you from covid.
(disclaimer: it wont but for those who may really believe it will-dont do it)

ironic theyre approving what the horrible WHO says. that guy tedros should be arrested and thrown in jail.

So can you inject disinfectant? Top Dog says you can. lol.

5g
Anti Vaxers
Truthers
Alex Jones
Flat earthers
Those "double your internet speed" videos that attach cd roms to cables
People I don't like
Anything against my way of thinking

Just keep removing stuff it only gives those people towards their (in my opinion) compromised belief systems towards their beliefs.

I humbly think all platforms can do better by being transparent when a video/content is removed. So it's not a "shut me down" because I tell the truth no matter how unbelievably silly the content is...

In photography related terms:

Unlimited hdr = better photos
Perfect = best
Big lenses = higher paying clients
Fuji is a real camera company

All should be banned

Many photography gear reviews. Especially 2 that frequent the comment area here. Clickbaiters with their thumbnail picture of them looking shocked "you wont believe" caption added on it
Unbox therapy and marques bronee are both garbage you tubers

Tons of fake news. Or news that cant be checked if theyre credible.

Am i the only one who gets the same recommended videos even if you block the channel or have watched it for a short duration and have checked "dont recommend channel" or "not interested"?
The same garbage being thrown down your throat. The same videos shown to you whdn you already saw it a long time ago. Just a shitty algorithm with yt
Those buttons are placebo that do nothing

Horrendous joke.
YouTube will loose all audiences
Really, the grossly unreliable WHO? Who has ever trusted that old communist-built political outlet?

#1. YouTube will be fine.
#2. What is your negative opinion of the WHO based on and which health authority would you prefer to believe?
#3. You are not entitled to free speech on a private platform so get over it. 🤷‍♂️

Well the WHO has lost trust recently, especially with how its been dealing with Taiwan and information from China. I wonder if the organisation would do better with new leadership.

YouTube is most decidedly NOT a common carrier. In the US, a common carrier, at least in the telecommunications parlance, is something that is regulated by Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. YouTube is not so regulated. ISPs *used* to fall under this designation until the defeat of net neutrality last year.

All the comments on here from the sheep, defenders of WHO as THE authority, tell a story. This, right here, is the result of endless lies repeated by the media and schools. Anyone who thinks letting sites like YouTube, Facebook, etc., decide what we get to see are people who don't have any critical thinking skills of their own. They want others to tell them what to do and what to think.

Exactly

Many of us have experienced this first hand. The more people and organizations like this get called "overprotective", the more we ignore the underlying intellectual narcissism that fuels their behavior...

...and the closer we get to a fully blown tyranny where only those at the top see themselves as deserving of human rights and freedoms.

Flat earth videos prove people can't rationally think.

WHO has not covered itself in glory, but we have to look and see how any organization dependent on funding from those they report on perform. China is a permanent member of the Security Council. So too is the US. Both are using money and influence to get what they want out of WHO that has nothing to do with global health.
Couple this reality with two governments whose primary motivation is self preservation and the public can only depend on the energy of independent journalism to get information out. This despite praise for WHO from Trump in spite of reports from our intelligence community and US scientists in WHO feeding real time reports to the WH.
Add to that a bloc of media who are frantically trying to preserve the Trump administration from self immolating in a hurricane of lies, delusion and random attack tweets with side orders of distraction consisting of stoking fears of war in the Gulf, hyping his xenophobic cred by talking about stopping all immigration despite the closure of all relevant offices and borders and adding progress reports on the border wall during his pandemic briefings/rallies.
So the criticism of WHO is warranted but is being amplified by a desperately incompetent administration needing as many scapegoats as possible.

Thanks Indy. You just made my point.

that tedros guy should be arrested at the least or put in front of a firing squad. harsh? you get what you give

his downplay caused thousands and thousands of unnecessary deaths of people.
I listened to the who report everyday. every single time he kept downplaying the crisis. calling it a worldwide emergency way way too late. "lets not exaggerate and call it a pandemic" he said

I guess instead of reporting exactly what they knew at the time they should just guess? On the 30th of January they told everybody this was of international concern. That is when screening and quarantine of travel should of been pushed up.

Wow you sound like a super articulate guy with your fancy phrases and all. Your angry, hateful rant is so relevant to this conversation. Did you not finish your anger management classes or are you just your average run of the mill lunatic?

My mom is doing great unlike yours. I would have offed myself if you were my kid too.

What was she, Taliban, or a goat? She still offed herself because she didn't want to come home to a little bitch like you.

You can sure dish out can't you? That's what happens when you run your mouth, people hit back. Now run off to your safe space.

You sure are brave to talk like that in an online forum. You'd take a serious beating if you had the balls to talk to people like that in person.

This comment section is proof that everything posted on the internet becomes a pissing contest.

I think the best part will be when the WHO collapses and polio comes back.

These idiots don't realise the WHO is absolutely dependant upon governments for access and data; nor that the WHO does a lot of really good work.

What does any of what you said have anything to do with allowing opinions other than WHO's?

It pertains to utter stupidity, such as is regularly sprouted by photographers in places such as this.

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