Attempting to justify its decision, YouTube vaguely stated that it had recognized the need to reassess the impact of its policy in the current landscape. The company suggested that while removing such content did address some misinformation, it could inadvertently stifle political speech without effectively mitigating the risk of real-world harm or violence. Consequently, with the 2024 campaigns already underway, YouTube declared that it would cease removing content promoting false claims of widespread fraud, errors, or glitches in the 2020 and previous US presidential elections.
The proliferation of misinformation and disinformation poses a significant threat to society. By perpetuating false narratives, individuals are drawn into an alternative reality of “alternative facts,” where despots are portrayed as virtuous and defenders of democracy are maligned as corrupt or untrustworthy. Moreover, the dissemination of falsehoods can leave people bewildered, unsure of what is real and what is fabricated—an insidious form of gaslighting that bolsters authoritarian movements and undermines the foundations of truth.
