YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content • Hacker News Board

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#61

Post by williamdclt » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:34 PM UTC

josh_today wrote: post #38

“ YouTube will ban any videos that claim that commonly used vaccines approved by health authorities are ineffective” So speaking truth can get me banned from YouTube? • Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. When these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild. • If you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta v…

What's your point? "Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant" does suggest the vaccine is effective. You can still spread the virus, nobody's pretending it's 100% effective, but that doesn't make it ineffective

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#62

Post by root_axis » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

rafaelturk wrote: post #34

As much I condemn anti-vaxxers: “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”

They can say it, just not on YouTube.

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#63

Post by judofyr » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

josh_today wrote: post #38

“ YouTube will ban any videos that claim that commonly used vaccines approved by health authorities are ineffective” So speaking truth can get me banned from YouTube? • Infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. When these infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild. • If you are fully vaccinated and become infected with the Delta v…

These statements don’t claim that the vaccine is “ineffective”. “effective” does not mean 100% perfect.

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#64

Post by wepple » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

Can anyone recommend a good book on the balance between free speech versus disallowing harmful ideas to propagate?

Or even one book from each side of the argument?

I don’t think I’ve even begun to comprehend a robust position on what might make sense, or the arguments involved.

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#65

Post by mariodiana » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

I think we have to ask if this won't have a chilling effect on open discussion by moderate voices. I'm subscribed to the channel of an M.D. on YouTube who discusses COVID-19, vaccines, etc. He is very careful to (repeatedly) point out that he is vaccinated, he has personally vaccinated hundreds of patients, he encourages everyone to speak to their doctor and follow their recommendations, believing that the vaccine is beneficial for the overwhelming majority of people. But, for all that, he has had videos taken down, and worries that it will happen again.

Months ago he was insisting that the people who had contracted COVID-19 and who had antibodies in their system may not need the vaccine. Now, we have a number of studies coming out to support that. But months ago that was "anti-vax" (employing the slanderous use of the term).

People are going to cheer that "wackos" will no longer have a platform. It's not the wackos we should be worrying about. It's the stifling of legitimate public debate, the stifling of legitimate voices who find themselves in the minority.

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#66

Post by ihsw » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

afavour wrote: post #40

Time for repeat showing of the free speech debate we’ve already had a dozen times, whoopee! As ever, IMO, the problem isn’t the hosting or the banning, it’s the algorithms. I don’t care whether YouTube hosts anti-vaccine activists, I care that they actively promote anti-vaccine content to users simply because it’s proven to get clicks and earn them money. Bans like this look incredibly stupid when you realise YouTube…

There is such a thing as anti-mandate pro-vaccine activists and their voice is being squashed as well. There is no nuance to the conversation.

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#67

Post by IgorPartola » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

Jimmc414 wrote: post #51

The problem is that questions about the vaccine are being labeled as anti-vaccine. Real data about the side effects of the vaccine constitutes science not anti-vax propaganda. It is distressing that supporters of informed consent are being lumped in with QAnon.

Maybe YouTube isn’t the best place to discuss results of scientific inquiry?

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#68

Post by pbourke » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

WmyEE0UsWAwC2i wrote: post #25

One of The Osterholm update's video (a podcast) was censored for spreading "misinformation". I hope they can survive this.

For context, Michael Osterholm runs the Center for Infectious Disease Reasearch and Policy at the University of Minnesota and was a member of Biden’s COVID advisory board during the presidential transition.

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#69

Post by kkoncevicius » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:35 PM UTC

The article is pay-walled to me. But I am interested - do they mention where the line for being "anti-vaccine" currently is? For example - is someone who is making a video about why he/she will not be taking a 3rd booster shot anti-vaccine and therefore banned?

Re: YouTube is banning anti-vaccine activists and blocking all anti-vaccine content

#70

Post by zpeti » Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 1:36 PM UTC

IgorPartola wrote: post #53

afavour wrote: post #40

Time for repeat showing of the free speech debate we’ve already had a dozen times, whoopee! As ever, IMO, the problem isn’t the hosting or the banning, it’s the algorithms. I don’t care whether YouTube hosts anti-vaccine activists, I care that they actively promote anti-vaccine content to users simply because it’s proven to get clicks and earn them money. Bans like this look incredibly stupid when you realise YouTube…

Let me reframe: let’s say that YouTube hosts anti-vax content and as a result some percentage of people are swayed by this content to not vaccinate themselves or their children. Some percentage of them dies. Let’s say in absolute numbers it is 10,000 people. Do you think that YouTube did a good thing by allowing that content?

Let me reframe, in spring 2020 the CDC says don't buy or use masks, they don't work. This was spread as the gospel, by the media and probably youtube.

How many people died because of increased infections? Is that Youtube's fault or anyone else who repeated the CDCs guidelines?