YouTube โReinstates Conspiracy Theorists Previously Banned During COVID-19, Citing Policy Revisions
SAN BRUNO, CA – September 24, 2025 – YouTube has begun reinstating channels previously banned for spreading misinformation during teh COVID-19 pandemic, including figuresโ who promoted demonstrably false and risky cures. The โคplatform’s reversal comes afterโข a reassessment of its policies, with YouTube officials nowโข claiming thatโ advocating for treatments like โdrinking bleach, while harmful, does not inherently violate its community guidelines.
The reinstatement has sparked immediate controversy, raising concerns about the resurgence of health misinformation โon the platformโค and the potential for real-world harm. YouTube initially removed numerous channels in 2020 and 2021 for violating policies against spreading medical misinformation related too COVID-19. A key justification for the original bans,โค according to YouTube at the โtime, was the promotion of โฃunproven and possibly โขlethal treatments. However, โa recentโฃ statement from a YouTube spokesperson indicated the prior actions were partially influenced by political considerations, specifically relating to then-president Joe Biden’s โคmanagement.The spokesperson โstated the initial blocks were enacted, in part, because of content critical of Biden.
“We’ve re-evaluated our approach and determinedโข that simply stating something is a cure, even if demonstrably false and dangerous – โlike suggesting drinking bleachโ – isn’t automatically a violation of our rules,” the spokesperson explained. “Our policies are now focused more on directโ calls for โขharmful actions and lessโข on the promotion of unverified treatments.”
The moveโค affects several high-profile conspiracy theorists who amassed large followings before theirโฃ removal. While YouTube has not released a comprehensive list of reinstated channels, sources confirm thatโ accounts previously flagged for promoting false COVID-19 cures are now active. The platform maintains it will continue to remove content that directly incites violence or poses an immediate โthreat to public safety, โคbut the revised guidelines appear to offer โgreater latitude for the dissemination โof misinformation.
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