Calay News
As of Friday, Google-owned YouTube has lifted restrictions on former President Donald Trump’s account, allowing him to post new videos. The restrictions were put in place following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Trump’s accounts on three major platforms, including Facebook and Twitter, from which he was suspended or restricted, are now restored, just in time for his expected campaign for the 2024 election.
The decision by YouTube comes after CEO Susan Wojcicki stated in 2021 that Trump’s restrictions would be lifted when the risk of real-world violence had subsided. While the account was not terminated from the site, it was restricted from uploading new videos.
YouTube’s VP of Public Policy, Leslie Miller, stated that the company carefully evaluated the risk of real-world violence and balanced that with the importance of preserving the opportunity for voters to hear equally from major national candidates in the run-up to an election. The company also noted that Trump’s posts on YouTube tend to differ from those on other platforms, often including reuploads from news networks.
YouTube’s trust and safety teams analyzed factors such as government security alerts and violent rhetoric across different platforms to determine when the risk of real-world violence had decreased. The company stated that Trump’s channel will continue to be subject to its policies, just like any other channel on YouTube.
As of Friday, Trump’s YouTube account had over 2.6 million subscribers. While the lifting of restrictions on Trump’s accounts has caused controversy, YouTube stated that it believes it has made the right decision in restoring the account.
YouTube’s decision to lift restrictions on Trump’s account has restored his access to all major social media platforms. While some have criticized the decision, YouTube believes it has made the right choice after carefully evaluating the risks. With the 2024 election on the horizon, Trump’s restored social media presence is likely to be a key factor in the race.
