Although the change isn’t a complete ban on promoting the conspiracy theory, YouTube expects the new policy to have a significant impact on QAnon content circulating on its service.
(Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) YouTube is taking a new step to crack down on the QAnon movement; starting today, the platform will ban videos that claim certain individuals or groups—such as celebrities and public figures—are complicit in the conspiracy. QAnon supporters tend to believe there’s a secret cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles, who allegedly include Hollywood stars and Democratic politicians. So YouTube’s new policy is poised to encompass numerous videos devoted to promoting the pro-Trump conspiracy theory. On Thursday, YouTube announced the change as another measure to prevent hate and harassment on the popular video-sharing platform. The Google-owned service specifically called out QAnon as a conspiracy theory that’s been used “to justify real-world violence.” Most recently, QAnon supporters have been spotted amplifying falsehoods online that the wildfires on the US West Coast are part of a secret political plot from Antifa.
