YouTube has sanctioned Sky News Australia by barring it from uploading new content for a week for breaching rules on spreading COVID-19 misinformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has imposed a “strike” as part of its three-strike policy, the last of which is sanctioned by permanent removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YouTube did not refer to specific videos released by Sky News Australia, but spoke out against material that “could cause real-world harm.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The broadcaster’s digital editor said the decision was a disturbing affront to the ability to think freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sky News Australia, is owned by a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and has 1.85 million YouTube subscribers. The ban could have a negative impact on its revenue stream from Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A YouTube statement said there were “clear and established COVID-19 medical misinformation policies based on local and global health authority guidance” and that the videos in question “did not provide sufficient countervailing context,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Millions of Australians are now in lockdown to prevent the rapid spread of the contagious Delta variant, while less than 15% of the population is fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comments by seasoned Sky presenter Alan Jones have sparked a debate in Australia, with the pair claiming in a July 12 broadcast with MP Craig Kelly that the Delta was not as dangerous as the original and vaccinations would not help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sky News website issued an apology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YouTube has issued dozens of bans in the past two years, a number of which concern COVID-19, but most involve hate speech.<\/p>\n\n\n