YouTube has said that it will limit the content that spreads conspiracy theories linking 5G technology to the global COVID-19 pandemic – this comes after seven cell towers were set on fire in the UK.
“We also have clear policies that prohibit videos promoting medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent the coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment, and we quickly remove videos violating these policies when flagged to us,” a YouTube spokesperson said.
The Verge reports that YouTube “may allow other conspiracy-themed content about 5G which doesn’t mention the coronavirus to remain on the site as “borderline content”.
Nick Jeffery, Chief Executive at Vodafone UK, says “it beggars belief that some people should want to harm the very networks that are providing essential connectivity to the emergency services, the NHS and the rest of the country during this lockdown period”.
YouTube and COVID-19
The Novel Coronavirus has been a worldwide topic of conversation since the outbreak in 2019 – health experts, media and content creators alike have taken to online platforms to share the latest news on the spread, helpful tips to avoid further infection as well as discuss the global impact of the pandemic.
However, while many of these videos have been made with good intention – there are a number of random users who have uploaded content detailing fake news and conspiracy theories among other hoaxes.
In response to these trolls, YouTube announced that it will be introducing a whole row of authoritative news videos dedicated to combating the spread of misinformation surrounding COVID-19. This comes shortly after the content streaming platforms decision to demonetize any and all ads placed on content that address the outbreak.
Fighting COVID-19 Misinformation
YouTube is not the only social giant taking a stand against fraudulent information online. Some of the worlds biggest social media and information sharing platforms have announced that they will be working together to protect their users from coronavirus-related misinformation. These companies include Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit and Twitter.
There’s no word yet on exactly what this collaboration will mean for the companies or their users.
