​YouTube Deletes Conspiracy Theorist David Icke's Channel

YouTube has deleted the channel of conspiracy theorist and former footballer David Icke amid pressures to help stop the spread of misinformation during the coronavirus pandemic.

The ban from the video platform follows a similar move by Facebook, which removed Icke's page on Friday.

YouTube, which is owned by Google, said Icke's channel was deleted due to violating 'clear policies' surrounding content about Covid-19.

Icke had made controversial claims about the virus on several internet platforms, including the unproven idea that the novel coronavirus is linked to the 5G mobile network.

A spokesperson for YouTube told the BBC: "YouTube has clear policies prohibiting any content that disputes the existence and transmission of Covid-19 as described by the WHO and the NHS.

"Due to continued violation of these policies we have terminated David Icke's YouTube channel."

PA

The move has been praised by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a UK think-tank.

A statement on the CCDH website said such videos of Icke's have been viewed 'at least 30 million times'.

It said: "Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Icke has used your platforms to spread dangerous conspiracy theories and medical misinformation to his audience of millions of followers and subscribers.

"The potentially harmful claims he has made include denying the existence of Covid-19; linking the current crisis to 5G mobile technology; suggesting that Jewish cultists are behind the crisis; that viruses cannot be transmitted through direct physical contact or intermediary objects; and that people with healthy immune systems are safe from contracting the virus.

"Videos of Icke making these claims have been viewed at least 30 million times."

While saying the ban was 'good news', Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the CCDH, said in a tweet that both Facebook and YouTube 'must go further' and remove the network of 'shadowy channels and accounts that promote Icke'.

He also urged Twitter to 'act now', suggesting he felt the social media platform should ban Icke too.

According to Sky, Icke's YouTube channel more than 900,000 subscribers at the time it was taken down by YouTube.

Topics: UK News, News, Coronavirus, YouTube

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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