YouTube reversed a short-lived ban on the TalkRadio digital station from its platform, about 12 hours after it removed the organization’s channel for what it said was a violation of community guidelines.
The station, part of Rupert Murdoch’s TalkSport network, said it was not informed by the platform of the latest breach. A TalkRadio spokesman said: “We urgently await a detailed response from Google / YouTube about the nature of the breach that caused our channel to be removed from its platform.
“TalkRadio is a broadcaster licensed and regulated by Ofcom and has robust editorial controls, taking care to balance the debate.
“We regularly question government data and have controls in place, we use verifiable sources and we give space for a careful selection of voices and opinions.”
On Tuesday night, the streaming platform broke the silence and reinstated TalkRadio’s account. “The TalkRadio YouTube channel was briefly suspended, but after further review, it was reinstated,” said a YouTube spokesman. “We quickly removed flagged content that violates our Community Guidelines, including Covid-19 content that explicitly contradicts the consensus of experts from local health authorities or the World Health Organization. We make exceptions for material posted for educational purposes, documentary, scientific or artistic, as considered in this case. ”
A TalkRadio source told the Guardian that the problem was particularly acute for programs that host public debates about the coronavirus. “You can have a debate on a subject and if, in someone’s opinion, it undermines official guidance in any way, then it’s classified as medical misinformation,” they said.
YouTube’s content moderation system imposes a “three strikes” rule, according to which accounts can receive “strikes” for posting content that violates content guidelines. A single warning brings with it a series of restrictions, but a channel that receives three notices in a 90-day period will be removed entirely from the platform. A previous attack had been issued on TalkRadio’s account for a discussion with conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, the Guardian understands.
The platform has a specific set of policies on medical misinformation related to Covid. At least two of the station’s hosts, Mark Dolan and Julia Hartley-Brewer, regularly speak out against blocking policies on and off the air.
Shortly after news of the suspension was released, Cabinet Minister Michael Gove appeared on the Hartley-Brewer program and spoke out in defense of TalkRadio’s right to criticize the government.
“I don’t believe in censorship and we have a free and fair press, and we have prominent commentators and interviewers who criticize the government’s position,” said Gove, “From Lord Sumption to Peter Hitchens and others, and for a long time it remains that way. I think it is absolutely right for people to ask questions. “
YouTube’s definition of medical misinformation, while similar to that of competitors like Facebook and Twitter, has drawn criticism in its own right.
Commentators noted that the rule avoids criticism of organizations that have changed their boards – in some cases significantly – during the course of the pandemic.
In March 2020, for example, many technology platforms classified as incorrect information claim that wearing masks can help prevent the spread of Covid; these same technology platforms now classify the claim that wearing a mask does not help prevent the spread of Covid as disinformation. In both cases, statements by local and international health officials are behind the decision.
An Ofcom spokesman said: “This was a decision by YouTube. Like other UK stations, TalkRadio’s radio channel comes under our broadcast code. When evaluating programs according to our rules, we take into account the broadcaster’s right to freedom of expression and the listeners’ right to receive information and ideas ”.