Post by : Rameen Ariff

California: Google has admitted that it removed some content from YouTube due to pressure from the Biden administration. The tech giant has also announced a policy change that may allow previously banned accounts to return to the platform.

In a letter sent to the House Judiciary Committee, a Google lawyer explained that users who were permanently banned for political speech, including Covid-19 or election-related content, might now have the chance to reinstate their accounts. High-profile figures such as former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka, and podcast host Steve Bannon, who were previously banned, could be affected.

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, emphasized that the pressure from the Biden administration to remove content that did not violate YouTube policies was “unacceptable and wrong.” The company stated it has consistently defended free speech and will not use third-party fact-checkers to police content.

The letter was submitted amid a Republican-led investigation into whether tech companies restricted speech at the request of the Biden administration. Alphabet also highlighted concerns about European censorship laws, which they say could threaten American speech and lead to the removal of lawful content.

Alphabet has not yet provided a timeline for when banned users may regain access to their accounts. The announcement signals a major shift in YouTube’s approach to content moderation and political speech, potentially impacting both ordinary users and public figures.