YouTube will give ‘second chances’ to some banned creators

Last month, Alphabet told the House Judiciary Committee that it would allow some creators who were banned from YouTube to spread coronavirus and election-related misinformation. To come back To the platform. Now, the company is determining how this process will work, although it’s not clear exactly who will have this opportunity.

YouTube says that starting today it will give “certain previously terminated creators” the ability to “request” a new channel in an effort the company describes as offering “second chances” on the platform. The update does not mention disinformation policies related to COVID-19 or the election, which have come under fire from House Republicans. Instead, YouTube says the “beta program” will be available to select “qualified creators.” It does not explain how it will be determined who is eligible. Last month, far-right figures Nick Fuentes and Alex Jones — both of whom were banned from YouTube years before the pandemic — tried to rejoin YouTube after going public with the message and were rejected. It was removed immediately.

“Our goal is to roll this out to eligible creators to apply over the coming months, and we appreciate patience as we ramp up, carefully review applications, and learn as we move forward,” the company wrote. “Not every type of duct termination will qualify.” Among the factors YouTube will consider are “whether the creator has committed particularly serious or persistent violations of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service, or whether the creator’s activity on or off the platform has harmed or may continue to harm the YouTube community.” People banned for copyright infringement will not be able to submit.

All of this is still remarkably vague compared to the language Alphabet used in its letter to the House Judiciary Committee last month. “YouTube will provide an opportunity for all creators to rejoin the platform if the company terminates their channels due to repeated violations of COVID-19 and election integrity policies that are no longer in effect,” the statement read.

Most importantly, YouTube does not give previously banned creators access to their old channels and subscribers. Instead, anyone allowed back under the program will have the opportunity to create an entirely new channel, meaning they will have to rebuild their presence from scratch.