YouTube is extending its temporary suspension of President Trump’s channel for another week. This marks quite a departure from the way the platform usually deals with channel and video violations, but these are unique times both on and offline.
Following the U.S. Capitol riot that took place on January 6, many services implemented various bans or suspensions. With Twitter being one of the preferred channels of communication for Trump, it was one of the first to act with the service opting to permanently ban the President’s account. Following which, YouTube also suspended Trump’s channel. Unlike Twitter, however, YouTube’s response was only temporary.
Originally, the YouTube suspension was supposed to be for one week. However, Google’s video-uploading service has now confirmed that it is extending the ban for another seven days. Although unusual, YouTube explained that the channel ban was extended due to concerns over the “potential for violence,” according to CNET. With this adding another seven days to the suspension, it will mean the Donald J. Trump channel remains unable to upload new videos until long after Inauguration day.
When the first suspension was announced, YouTube explained it was the result of the channel uploading a video that violated its terms of service. YouTube uses a specific three-strike process that involves content creators first receiving a warning. Then, if another violation occurs, the channel is hit with the first strike and a seven-day channel suspension that prohibits the channel from uploading additional content. However, suspended channels need to normally violate the policies once against for any further action to be taken. In this case, YouTube has expanded the suspension without any clear violation having occurred.
Of course, it is not hard to see why YouTube has made this decision. With the inauguration hours away, tensions high, and reports of the potential for violence in the coming days, services are actively attempting to limit exposure to content they deem to be misinformation or that could incite violence. While this is an unusual move for YouTube, the service is clearly monitoring the overall effects of the channel and making a decision that it believes to be in the best interest of the general public. While other services have opted to outright ban the President’s account, YouTube previously explained that it would not implement a permanent ban, unless Trump’s channel received all three strikes within a ninety-day period. The same rule YouTube applies to all content creators.
Source: CNET
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