YouTube to reinstate creators banned under expired COVID-19 and election misinformation policies

YouTube will offer a path for creators who were banned under COVID-19 and election misinformation policies that are no longer in effect to rejoin the platform, Alphabet said in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

In the letter, Alphabet's lawyers framed the reinstatement as part of a commitment to free expression and noted the company values conservative voices for their role in civic discourse. They cited policy changes in recent years that allowed broader discussion of sensitive topics while maintaining safety standards. YouTube in 2023 phased out its policy to remove content that claimed the 2020 election or other past U.S. presidential elections were marred by widespread fraud, errors or glitches. In 2024, the platform retired its standalone COVID-19 content restrictions, instead regulating COVID-19 misinformation under its broader medical misinformation policy.

The move comes as technology executives, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, seek a closer relationship with Republican lawmakers and face pressure from conservatives over moderation rules established during the pandemic era. Alphabet's letter says YouTube will continue to enable free expression on topics that are the subject of public debate, regardless of the political atmosphere.

Alphabet's lawyers said senior Biden administration officials conducted repeated outreach to persuade the company to remove pandemic-related videos that did not violate its policies. The company described those efforts as unacceptable attempts by government to dictate how it moderates content, and it said it has consistently fought against such influence on First Amendment grounds.

The filing also notes that other tech leaders have criticized government pressure on moderation, and it references broader debates about how the Supreme Court and policymakers balance free expression with public safety on social platforms.

Among creators banned under the expired policies is conservative influencer Dan Bongino. The reinstatement could restore monetization opportunities for creators, who rely on ad revenue from large audiences to sustain their channels.

Alphabet did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the reinstatement process or which accounts might be allowed back on the platform.