YouTube removes Rudy Giuliani podcast video and Steve Bannon’s channel as it cracks down on misinformation
YouTube had said it is cracking down on new videos featuring misinformation as they and other tech companies including Facebook and Twitter face backlash after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. In the video podcast, Giuliani describes the events that day, suggesting they were orchestrated to make President Trump look bad.Rush Limbaugh deactivates his Twitter account after President Trump permanently banned
Trump ban:President Trump permanently banned from Twitter over risk he could incite violence
The YouTube account for former Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast was taken down.
In a statement, YouTube said it had “terminated Steve Bannon’s channel ‘War room’ and one associated channel for repeatedly violating our Community Guidelines.”
The podcast videos are posted on Bannon’s website with this note: “While YouTube announces broad censorship mandates for any channel discussing the election, Steve Bannon discusses the latest on the coronavirus pandemic and the latest updates on the state of the election.”
YouTube and social media companies including Facebook and Twitter have been lambasted by critics who say their platforms contribute to the spread of misinformation culminating with rioters storming the Capitol as proceedings to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election began.
Facebook and Twitter stepped up enforcement on President Trump’s accounts to curb the spread of false information. On Thursday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said posting to Trump’s accounts on the social network and Instagram would be blocked indefinitely.
On Friday, Twitter permanently banned Trump. Also on Friday, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s Twitter account was deactivated. Twitter confirmed to USA TODAY that the account wasn’t suspended but “deactivated by the owner.”
When USA TODAY asked Twitter about the status of Giuliani’s Twitter account as well as a Trump War Room account that was not suspended Friday, the company said the accounts “are currently not in violation of our policies.”
Twitter permanently suspended the @TeamTrump account for ban evasion late Friday.
Contributing: Brett Molina and Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY
Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko