Google to reinstate YouTube accounts banned for COVID-19 content, per House panel letter

Google said it will reinstate YouTube channels that were permanently removed for posting content related to the COVID-19 pandemic, per a letter its attorneys sent to the House Judiciary Committee. The accounts cited included those linked to figures such as Dan Bongino, Sebastian Gorka and Steve Bannon, all of whom had been banned in recent years after YouTube flagged them for “repeated violations of COVID-19” and “elections integrity” policies. The letter frames the move as a revisiting of past moderation decisions and comes as tech platforms face renewed scrutiny over how they regulate information during health crises and political discourse.

Alphabet’s chief counsel, Daniel Donovan, told House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan that those policy flags are “no longer in effect” and that Google plans to reinstate the accounts. He also asserted that YouTube “never” prohibited posting related to COVID origins, a characterization that aligns with the broader argument that the platform should protect a range of viewpoints. In a letter reviewed by The New York Post, Donovan said YouTube takes seriously the protection of free expression and the access to diverse perspectives, and he credited the Judiciary Committee for accountability during a years-long review of potential First Amendment concerns on the platforms.

The letter arrives amid a broader, multi-year inquiry by the House Judiciary Committee into how major tech platforms handle content moderation and potential First Amendment implications. The committee has pressed for greater transparency on how policies are drafted and enforced, particularly around health information and political content. Donovan’s missive underscores Google’s stance that content moderation decisions can be revisited in light of evolving policy interpretations and the aim of balancing safety with open expression, even as the company continues to enforce its COVID-19 and elections-related rules.

The reinstatement covers accounts that were flagged specifically for repeated violations of COVID-19 and elections integrity policies. Google did not indicate any wider changes to its policy framework beyond those cases, and it is unclear whether the company will reassess other channels that were affected under the same enforcement actions. The development highlights ongoing tensions over how platforms regulate content tied to public health topics and political narratives, a debate that has spanned multiple administrations and regulators.

The company noted in its communications that it values accountability and dialog with lawmakers, and Alphabet said it appreciates the panel’s oversight as it weighs how best to navigate free expression and public safety in a rapidly evolving information landscape. The House Judiciary Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. While the reinstatement represents a specific step in the ongoing moderation discourse, analysts say it also signals how policy interpretations can shift with senior leadership and evolving public conversations about misinformation and health guidance.