Video streaming platform YouTube will streamline current medical misinformation guidelines for specific health conditions, treatments, and substances where content conflicts with regional health authorities or the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Starting today and ramping up in the coming weeks, we will begin removing content that promotes cancer treatments proven to be harmful or ineffective, or content that discourages viewers from seeking professional medical treatment,” YouTube said in a blog post on August 15.
The weblog mentioned therapies such as “garlic cures cancer” and “take vitamin C instead of radiation therapy,” which would be removed, according to the business.
According to YouTube’s Director and Global Head of Healthcare and Public Health Partnerships, Garth Graham, and the company’s VP and Global Head of Trust and Safety, Matt Halprin, the guidelines will fall into three categories as part of the “long-term vision” for its medical misinformation policies.
“These policies will apply to specific health conditions, treatments, and substances where content contradicts local health authorities or WHO,” the blog post said.
YouTube will age-gate content or display an explanation box beneath such films for more context, according to the post.
Public interest content, such as comments made by national political candidates on the campaign trail that contradict health authority guidelines, or graphic footage from active warzones or humanitarian disasters, is an exception.
“We may also make exceptions for personal testimonies or content that discusses the results of a specific medical study,” the post said.
The move is intended to make the company’s strategy more accessible to artists, viewers, and partners.