The Propaganda FilesYouTube stops removing false 2020 election fraud claims
On June 2, 2023, YouTube said it would stop removing content that falsely claims the 2020 or other past U.S. presidential elections were marred by widespread fraud, errors or glitches. It said the removals curbed some misinformation but could also curtail political speech without meaningfully reducing real-world harm.
The reversal restored room on YouTube for 2020 fraud claims made mostly by Trump allies, ahead of Trump's 2024 campaign.
What the record shows
The Associated Press reported the change took effect immediately. YouTube said it wanted to protect the ability to 'openly debate political ideas, even those that are controversial or based on disproven assumptions.' Its other election misinformation rules stayed in place. YouTube said it would still remove content meant to mislead voters about the 2024 election and other future elections, such as false claims about when or how to vote.
In their words
“openly debate political ideas, even those that are controversial or based on disproven assumptions”— YouTube, company blog post quoted by the Associated Press · source
Election-integrity advocates warned the reversal would let disproven fraud claims spread again ahead of 2024; YouTube described the earlier blanket removal as having outlived its usefulness.
Sources
- AP via News4JAX: YouTube changes policy to allow false claims about past US presidential electionshttps://www.news4jax.com/tech/2023/06/02/youtube-changes-policy-to-allow-false-claims-about-past-us-presidential-elections/
- FOX 6: YouTube policy change on past election claimshttps://www.fox6now.com/news/youtube-policy-change-false-claims-about-past-us-presidential-elections-will-be-allowed
- American Democracy Minute: Will false claims go unchecked?https://www.americandemocracyminute.org/wethepeople/2023/06/06/youtube-will-no-longer-remove-2020-election-fraud-disinformation-will-false-claims-go-unchecked/