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Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to YouTube’s Decision to Deplatform Anti-Choice LifeSite“News”
Washington, DC — Today, following LifeSiteNews’ third violation of YouTube’s community guidelines within 90 days, the platform permanently banned the anti-choice extremist site.
LifeSiteNews is an anti-freedom, anti-choice organization masquerading as a news outlet in order to spread disinformation to millions of people. It has discouraged people from getting the COVID-19 vaccine; spread Islamophobia and promoted white supremacy; raised money for anti-LGBTQ “conversion therapy;” in addition to being one of the largest spreaders of anti-choice disinformation.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement in response:
“Today’s deplatforming of LifeSiteNews is the latest in several steps necessary to curb dangerous disinformation online and stop anti-choice, white supremacists from masquerading as neutral news sources. While this is a win, it came far too late. For years, LifeSiteNews has been allowed to trumpet falsehoods and advance the anti-choice agenda of power and control unchecked. We must continue to hold accountable the online platforms that allow extremism to flourish in the spotlight.”
According to YouTube’s rules, if an account gets three “strikes” within 90 days, it will be permanently banned. LifeSiteNews received one strike on November 20, 2020, and another on January 20, 2021. YouTube removed both videos for spreading health disinformation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine. A third video removed on February 5 is believed to be the third “strike,” resulting in today’s ban.
LifeSiteNews is already making baseless accusations of anti-conservative bias concerning its deplatforming. This is a deliberate strategy used by those on the far-right, pressuring social media companies into giving them preferential treatment. These disingenuous accusations of anti-conservative bias have given the Right an undue advantage online. This tactic aims to rile up their base and stoke the so-called culture war. They also provide a convenient distraction from the Republican Party’s glaring failures in leadership by lining up tech companies as a scapegoat.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters have fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom—including access to abortion, contraception, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 7 in 10 Americans who believe every person should have the freedom to make the best decision for themselves about if, when, and how to raise a family.