Google to reinstate YouTube accounts banned in Biden-era COVID crackdown
Company says bans stemmed from internal policies rather than government mandates; document alleges White House pressure to curb COVID misinformation; experts weigh free-speech implications.
Google said on Tuesday it would reinstate YouTube accounts that were banned for political speech or COVID-19 content, following an internal review that found censorship occurred under pressure from the Biden administration.
The company described the action as part of a broader effort to update its moderation practices and reflect a policy shift.
A document prepared by a Google attorney for the House Judiciary Committee outlines the policy shift and notes that White House officials pressed Google behind the scenes to remove misinformation about COVID-19.
The document also states that censorship occurred under internal policies rather than government mandates, and that those policies have since been rolled back.
Among the accounts previously banned are Dan Bongino, Sebastian Gorka and Steve Bannon, all permanently banned in recent years for COVID-19 or election-related content.
The policy shift is taking place in a broader policy landscape, including the European Union's Digital Services Act, which aims to curb illegal and harmful online activity and the spread of disinformation. Hillary Clinton and other Western policymakers pushed the DSA toward passage in 2022 after Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter.
Analysts say the move could influence how platforms handle moderation and political content in the United States and abroad.
Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley described the Google decision as a huge development for free speech and noted that allies, not just the United States, are pressing platforms to avoid overreach.
Turley also credited Elon Musk, who bought Twitter and has pledged to defend free speech, with contributing to a broader shift away from censorship.
A Google spokesperson told Fox News Digital there is nothing more to add beyond what is in the document.
Observers caution that the policy changes will be scrutinized by lawmakers in Washington and by EU regulators, as debates over digital-moderation mandates continue.
