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YouTube suspends pay of 14 Brazilian content creators amid misinformation allegations
The Hill reported according to Reuters, fourteen content creators have had their payments suspended by YouTube amid allegations that the channels have spread misinformation about the country’s 2022 election.
YouTube said in a statement Thursday, according to the wire service, "We reinforce our commitment to collaborating with the work of authorities in Brazil and to continue to invest in policies, resources and products to protect the YouTube community from harmful content."
The news comes after several social and multimedia platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, were directed last week by Brazil’s inspector general of electoral justice Luis Felipe Salomão, to temporarily halt payments to creators and other entities allegedly mired in election misinformation.
The Hill reported citing the CNN, the wire service reported that many of the YouTube channels targeted were supporters of controversial Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro may soon face a probe over unsubstantiated claims that fraud exists within Brazil’s voting system.
According to Reuters, the far-right president has also been criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including overpricing and corruption accusations involving a deal to secure vaccines made by Bharat Biotech.
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Like the YouTube creators, Bolsonaro has also been targeted by the video platform for allegedly spreading misinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
YouTube confirmed in July that it had removed videos from the president’s channel “after careful review,” citing its policy over coronavirus misinformation.
“Our policies don’t allow content that claims hydroxychloroquine and/or Ivermectin are effective to treat or prevent COVID-19, claims that there is a guaranteed cure for COVID-19, and claims that masks don’t work to prevent the spread of the virus," a spokesperson for YouTube told The Hill in a statement in July.
"This is in line with the guidance of local and global health authorities, and we update our policies as guidance changes. We apply our policies consistently across the platform, regardless of speaker or political view," the spokesperson added.
Source: thehill
