YouTube gets tough on anti-vaxxers

YouTube has demonetised anti-vaccination content to make it harder for anyone promoting such dangerous views to profit from their propaganda.

A BuzzFeed News report revealed that the US-based video sharing website will prevent advertising on anti-vax programs, describing such videos as dangerous and harmful.

Advertisers had been pulling their ads from the anti-vax videos in increasing numbers.

Some advertisers said they were not aware their ads were appearing on anti-vax videos and upon discovering that they were, asked YouTube to take them off.

Now YouTube has gone further and is denying any ads on these programs that campaign against immunisation of children.

The channels that have been demonetised include VAXXED TV, LarryCook333, which is part of StopMandatoryVaccinations.com, and iHealthTube.

In a statement to BuzzFeed, a YouTube spokesperson said: "We have strict policies that govern what videos we allow ads to appear on, and videos that promote anti-vaccination content are a violation of those policies. We enforce these policies vigorously, and if we find a video that violates them, we immediately take action and remove ads."

The company has also introduced an information panel about immunisation.

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