After Ban, YouTube Will Allow Videos That Back 2020 Election Fraud Claims
In a controversial move, YouTube will allow videos that claim the 2020 presidential election suffered from “widespread fraud, errors, or glitches,” even though the service itself knows such allegations are false.
In December 2020, YouTube banned videos that falsely claimed widespread voting fraud had altered the outcome to the presidential election. But on Friday, the Google-owned service said it’s time to lift the restrictive policy, citing the need to protect free speech.
“The ability to openly debate political ideas, even those that are controversial or based on disproven assumptions, is core to a functioning democratic society—especially in the midst of election season,” YouTube wrote in a blog post(Opens in a new window).
YouTube adds that it removed “tens of thousands of videos” while cracking down on the election misinformation. However, continuing to do so risks “the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm," it says.
“With that in mind, and with 2024 campaigns well underway, we will stop removing content that advances false claims that widespread fraud, errors, or glitches occurred in the 2020 and other past US Presidential elections,” the service adds. “This goes into effect today, Friday, June 2.”
The policy shift is bound to benefit presidential candidate Donald Trump, who continues to promote claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. In March, YouTube lifted its suspension on Trump’s account after he was temporarily blocked for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.
In response to the change, some are criticizing YouTube for allegedly prioritizing profits over democracy. “Platform execs saying they
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