Alphabet, the parent company of YouTube (and Google), has confirmed that a small number of creators banned for misinformation about COVID-19 or the US elections will be able to attempt to return to the platform. The platform is launching a pilot program presented as a “second chance” initiative. Concretely, certain previously deleted creators will be able to request the creation of a new channel, but without recovering their old videos, their subscribers or their statistics.
A very supervised return
« Our goal is to expand this program to eligible creators over the coming months », Indicates YouTube. “ We will review each request carefully and learn as we go. » The group specifies that not all suspensions will be affected: cases of serious or repeated violations, or activities deemed harmful. on or off the platform ”, will remain excluded. Copyright violations will not be subject to reinstatement.
This caution on the part of YouTube is truly remarkable, because in its letter sent to the American Judicial Commission on September 23, the company made numerous grandiose promises. She thus affirmed in black and white that “ YouTube will offer all creators the opportunity to return to the platform if their channels have been removed for repeated violations of COVID-19 or election integrity policies that are no longer in effect ».
However, the text unveiled this week no longer explicitly mentions these sensitive themes and on the contrary introduces the notion of “qualified creators”, without defining it. The far-right conspiracy figures Alex Jones and Nick Fuentes, who had tried to recreate an account after the publication of this letter, were immediately deleted again, proof that the return of the banned remains very regulated.
Even for the few admitted, YouTube will not reactivate old channels: the only option is to start from scratch. This approach reflects Google’s desire to limit political risks while responding to pressure from Republican elected officials close to Donald Trump, who have for months denounced the so-called “censorship” of certain extremist movements.
The platform does not specify how many creators will be affected, nor a precise timetable. The gesture therefore remains above all symbolic, a way for YouTube to show that it intends “ re-evaluate some past decisions » without reopening the floodgates of more lax moderation.
🟣 To not miss any news on the WorldOfSoftware, subscribe on Google News and on our WhatsApp. And if you love us, .
