YouTube reverses decision to ban TalkRadio

YouTube has restored TalkRadio’s channel hours after saying it had been “terminated” for violating the rules.

YouTube said that TalkRadio had posted material that contradicted expert advice about the coronavirus pandemic.

However, it also said that it sometimes made exceptions to guidelines that state repeat offenders face a permanent ban.

TalkRadio said it had yet to be given a full explanation for the affair.

YouTube has issued a statement regarding its actions.

“TalkRadio’s YouTube channel was briefly suspended, but upon further review, has now been reinstated,”

“We quickly remove flagged content that violates our community guidelines, including Covid-19 content that explicitly contradicts expert consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization. We make exceptions for material posted with an educational, documentary, scientific or artistic purpose, as was deemed in this case.”

YouTube operates a “three strikes” policy according to which channels that break its community guidelines three times within a 90-day period can be permanently banned.
TalkRadio said in a statement, YouTube is making decisions about which opinions the public are allowed to hear, even when they are sourced to responsible and regulated new providers,”

“This sets a dangerous precedent and is censorship of free speech and legitimate national debate.”

About TalkRadio

TalkRadio has about 424,000 listeners and 242,000 subscribers. It uses YouTube as a source to Livestream shows from its studios and to provide an archive of past broadcasts.

According to the international news agency, YouTube has previously imposed a permanent ban against t conspiracy theorist David Icke, and a one-week video suspension of right-wing outlet One

America News Network’s ability to publish new clips – in both cases for breaches of its Covid rules.