Google and YouTube are removing vaccine disinformation and demonetizing content denying climate change.  Publishers, advertisers, and YouTube creators will no longer be able to monetize content which denies the existence of climate change, while vaccine misinformation content will be removed entirely – including whole channels deemed to be linked to misinformation.

So What?

While many around the world are calling for greater control over content on social media platforms like YouTube, Google, and Facebook, others deem censorship a dangerous threat to democracy.  This move from Alphabet, Google and YouTube’s parent company, could prove integral in slowing or even stopping the spread of climate and medical misinformation – potentially saving lives and strengthening public consensus and dialogue.  It could also meet major backlash as YouTube and Google’s algorithms find and deactivate or demonetize channels innocent of spreading misinformation.  And, with questions of oversight, regulation and monopolistic behavior of tech giants like Alphabet in the spotlight, this brings further attention to these companies’ immense effect on society, democracy, and public discourse.