In August 2021, YouTube, the widely-used video-sharing platform owned by Google, revealed it had removed more than one million videos containing content it classified as dangerous COVID-19 misinformation. The announcement, made in a company blog post, underscored the ongoing efforts by major social media platforms to address the spread of false health claims and disinformation amidst the global coronavirus pandemic.
"Since February of 2020, we’ve removed over 1 million videos related to dangerous coronavirus information, like false cures or claims of a hoax." — Neal Mohan, YouTube Chief Product Officer
The removals, which began in February 2020, targeted content YouTube determined could cause "real-world harm." This included videos promoting false claims about COVID-19 treatments, assertions that the pandemic was a hoax, and other content deemed to violate the platform's community guidelines. Neal Mohan, YouTube's Chief Product Officer, stated in the blog post, "Since February of 2020, we’ve removed over 1 million videos related to dangerous coronavirus information, like false cures or claims of a hoax."
YouTube's moderation policies, according to the company, are informed by "expert consensus" from leading public health organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This approach aims to align the platform's content guidelines with established scientific and medical understanding. However, Mohan acknowledged the inherent challenges in content moderation, particularly as scientific understanding evolves. He noted that in some instances, "Misinformation is less clear-cut," emphasizing that new facts and understandings can emerge over time. Despite these complexities, the company's focus remains on removing content that could "directly lead to egregious real world harm."
Beyond the removal of problematic videos, YouTube also highlighted its proactive measures to elevate authoritative information. The company stated it has worked to promote content from credible sources when users search for news or health-related topics. Mohan explained, "When people now search for news or information, they get results optimized for quality, not for how sensational the content might be." This dual strategy aims to both suppress harmful content and amplify reliable information.
The scale of content moderation on YouTube is substantial. The company reported removing approximately 10 million videos every quarter for various policy violations, not limited to health misinformation. Mohan indicated that a significant majority of these removed videos receive fewer than 10 views before being taken down, suggesting the platform's systems are often effective in identifying and removing content quickly. While acknowledging the importance of rapid removals, Mohan also stressed the broader goal of fostering a healthier information environment: "Speedy removals will always be important but we know they’re not nearly enough... The most important thing we can do is increase the good and decrease the bad."
The platform's efforts to combat misinformation have extended beyond COVID-19. YouTube also reported enforcing policies related to election misinformation, particularly following the November 2020 U.S. election. The company stated it removed thousands of videos that violated its election integrity rules, with approximately three-quarters of these videos being taken down before reaching 100 views.
The announcement by YouTube contributes to the ongoing public discourse surrounding the role and responsibilities of social media companies in moderating online content. These platforms face increasing scrutiny from political leaders, public health officials, and civil society groups regarding how they balance the enforcement of misinformation policies with principles of free expression and public access to information. The nature of the removed content has also been a point of contention, with some, such as Leading Report, stating, "YouTube deleted more than 1 million videos during the coronavirus pandemic that were critical of COVID-19 vaccines." The company's actions reflect the growing pressure on technology giants to act as arbiters of information during critical public health emergencies and significant political events.
