YouTube will delete from its platform all videos that misinform about abortion

The video platform YouTube has announced Thursday that it will remove all content that gives unsafe instructions about abortion or promotes false claims about the termination of pregnancy.

“Starting today, and increasing in the coming weeks, we will remove content that provides instructions about unsafe abortion methods or promotes false claims about the safety of abortion under our medical misinformation policies,” the company said in a statement shared on Twitter.

The platform has indicated that, “as with all” of its policies on medical or health issues, YouTube relies on guidance issued by health authorities.

In this regard, it has assured that it prioritizes content with “authoritative sources on health topics,” and has detailed that it “continuously” reviews its policies and products as real-world events unfold.

“We are also launching an information dashboard that provides viewers with context and information from local and global health authorities in abortion-related videos and on top of relevant search results,” YouTube has reported on Twitter.

“An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It uses medication or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus. The procedure is performed by a licensed health care professional,” says the information panel displayed by the platform.

The panel includes a link for people who want to “learn more,” as well as instructions to “consult your local medical authority for advice.”

YouTube has taken a similar approach for other controversial topics, such as the health crisis caused by COVID-19 and the vaccination strategy, or political elections in different countries. However, it is unusual for the company to claim that it will remove videos entirely, as reported by US broadcaster CNBC.