The YouTube account of fringe-left, pro-deplatforming organization Right Wing Watch has been suspended by the platform, citing severe or repeated violations of its Community Guidelines. An appeal to overturn the decision submitted by Right Wing Watch was also rejected by YouTube.
UPDATE: After a cacaphony of online outrage from left-wing journalists, YouTube has reinstated the RWW blog and apologized for taking it down “by mistake.”
YouTube says it's now re-instated the channel. They took it down by mistake, spokesman says https://t.co/XBeRrShp42
— Gerrit De Vynck (@GerritD) June 28, 2021
“Our efforts to expose the bigoted view and dangerous conspiracy theories spread by right-wing activists has now resulted in @YouTube banning our channel and removing thousands of our videos. We attempted to appeal this decision, and YouTube rejected it,” the Right Wing Watch Twitter account complained on Monday.
Unsurprisingly, the outlet’s history of advocating for the online suppression of political views its staff disagrees with did not draw favor with critics after news of YouTube’s decision hit Twitter.
“Well they are a private company and can so what they want and you don’t have a right to a platform [sic],” content creator Mark “Count Dankula” Meechan posted mockingly in the replies to Right Wing Watch, adding, “But I do hope that you get your videos re-instated, free speech is very important I’m sure you’ll agree,”
Well they are a private company and can so what they want and you don't have a right to a platform and pic.twitter.com/ZureWt4kJR
— Count Honkula ߷ (@CountDankulaTV) June 28, 2021
Author Colin Moriarty also poked fun at the far-left organization, writing “Unfortunately, YouTube is a private company, and I’ve been told those can do whatever they want. Sorry man, better get on Vimeo.”
Unfortunately, YouTube is a private company, and I’ve been told those can do whatever they want.
Sorry man, better get on Vimeo.
— Colin Moriarty (@notaxation) June 28, 2021
A brief search through the Twitter timeline of Right Wing Watch found compelling reporting on topics such as “fascist fashion,” QAnon, and church sermons.
It is unknown what exactly spurred YouTube to deplatform Right Wing Watch, but experts familiar with the enforcement of Community Guidelines have pointed out that the channel’s removal could have been triggered by any number of violations, including spreading conspiracy theories and misinformation, reposting copyrighted content, or hateful content.
Since YouTube is classified as a private platform, it has the legal right to censor speech that does not conform to its Community Guidlines.
