YouTube says it will suppress content promoting 5G coronavirus conspiracy
Author: Wardah Sempa | Tuesday 7th April 2020
YouTube reportedly said it would reduce the number of videos it recommends to users on its platform which spread the claims that 5G technology is linked to the coronavirus. The company said it will remove videos that violate those policies.
This comes after a live-stream on Monday saw conspiracy theorist David Icke say that 5G and the health crisis were connected, which has also been the talk of the town. David Icke's video was watched by around 65,000 people,
A YouTube spokesperson told The Guardian it has “clear policies that prohibit videos promoting medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent the coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment,” adding that it had started “reducing recommendations of borderline content such as conspiracy theories related to 5G and coronavirus, that could misinform users in harmful ways.”
Facebook’s WhatsApp has also reduced the number of chats to which users can share frequently forwarded content to just one at a time. This move was also made to stop the spread of the conspirancy.
