Earlier this week, YouTube unveiled a refined policy aimed at combating medical misinformation on its platform. The company plans to simplify its existing rules, classifying them under three main headings: prevention, treatment and refusal. Therefore, YouTube will remove content that conflicts with recognized health guidelines on topics such as Covid-19, reproductive health, cancer and harmful substances.
YouTube’s overarching goal, as it claims in his announcement– is to prevent the platform from being an information channel likely to put lives at risk, particularly in areas where there is solid scientific consensus. “While specific medical advice may change over time as we learn more, our goal is to ensure that when it comes to areas of well-studied scientific consensus, YouTube is not a broadcast platform information that could harm people.”
In scoping content that may be removed, YouTube will assess whether the topic poses a significant risk to public health and is likely to be subject to misinformation. Cancer, for example, has been cited as an area of concern, given the propensity of those diagnosed to seek advice online.
However, while content promoting unverified treatments or undermining effective treatments will be flagged for removal, YouTube says certain exceptions will be made. The platform said content of “public interest,” even if it conflicts with the new policy, could remain online. For example, if a politician challenges official health guidelines or a public event broadcasts incorrect information, YouTube may choose not to be removed. In such cases, the company plans to provide additional context to the audience, to ensure that they can view the content with a well-informed perspective.
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