YouTube Says It Pulled Brazil President’s Videos for COVID-19 Misinformation

YouTube stated on Wednesday it had eliminated movies from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s channel for spreading misinformation concerning the coronavirus outbreak, turning into the most recent tech large to drag his pandemic pronouncements.

YouTube stated in a press launch the choice was taken “after careful review” and with out consideration for Bolsonaro’s job or political ideology. The far-right former military captain, who has overseen the world’s second deadliest outbreak, has gained widespread criticism for railing towards lockdowns, touting unproven miracle cures, sowing vaccine doubts and shunning masks.

“Our rules do not allow content that states that hydroxychloroquine and/or ivermectin are effective in treating or preventing COVID-19, that states there is a cure for the disease, or says that masks do not work to prevent the spread of the virus,” it stated in a press release.

The president’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Last 12 months, each Twitter and Facebook took down movies of Bolsonaro for breaching their phrases of use after he made pronouncements that went towards the suggestions of world public well being specialists.

Bolsonaro’s YouTube channel performs host to his weekly nationwide addresses, that are folksy, musical occasions by which he invitations on ministers, takes questions from viewers and blasts his enemies.

During the chats, which additionally exit on his Facebook web page, he frequently expounds on his doubts concerning the severity of the virus, the foolishness of stay-at-home measures and the wonders of unproven medicine like hydroxychloroquine.

© Thomson Reuters 2021