YouTube said on Tuesday it was extending a one-week ban on outgoing US President Donald Trump uploading videos or live-streaming to his channel for at least an additional seven days. Alphabet Inc’s video streaming platform banned Trump on Jan. 12 for a minimum of one week for violating its policy against inciting violence after his supporters stormed the US Capitol as Congress began to certify Biden’s victory on Jan. 6.
On Tuesday, YouTube said it was extending the suspension ”in light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence.” Trump is scheduled to vacate the White House on Wednesday as President-elect Joe Biden takes office.
In a video uploaded earlier on Tuesday to the White House’s YouTube channel, Trump decried the ”shutting down” of debate. ”In America, we don’t insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes, we just don’t do that,” he said.
As Trump used social media to falsely challenge the results of the Nov. 3 election, his supporters followed with violent rhetoric on the services and planned openly for the Jan. 6 gatherings, according to researchers and public postings, prompting criticism of the companies for failing to take action in advance.
Activists have threatened to organize a boycott of YouTube advertising if it does not ban Trump permanently, as Twitter Inc has done. Facebook has blocked his accounts indefinitely.
Also Read
Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai told Reuters last week that YouTube is treating Trump the same as any other user and will not terminate his account unless he violates the service’s policies three times in 90 days.
First Published: Jan 20, 2021 8:22 AM IST
Check out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!
Telangana Lok Sabha elections 2024: Asaduddin Owaisi to Bandi Sanjay Kumar, a look at key candidates
May 11, 2024 3:32 PM
Lok Sabha elections 2024: Hyderabad to Kadapa, key seats in fourth phase
May 11, 2024 2:54 PM
Telangana Lok Sabha elections 2024: List of BRS candidates
May 11, 2024 1:55 PM