Sky News Australia has quietly begun to remove content from its platforms that questions the country’s Covid-19 pandemic response or unproven treatments for the disease
It comes as the controversial news network prepares to face a Senate inquiry on Friday, to face questions about media diversity.
The broadcaster was suspended from YouTube for seven days last week after posting material that goes against the platform’s Covid misinformation policies.
The CEO of Sky News, as well as a prominent presenter and the digital editor have all criticised YouTube for deleting the videos, but the company has since removed all questionable content from its website.
YouTube says “we have clear and established Covid-19 medical misinformation policies based on local and global health authority guidance, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm.”
Free speech defence
The news network is not backing down, with the company’s digital editor Jack Houghton arguing YouTube’s decision to suspend Sky News Australia is a disturbing attack on the ability to think freely.
“Sky News Australia has been temporarily suspended from posting on the Google-owned platform YouTube for publishing opinion content the tech giant disagrees with,” Houghton says.
“Among the videos deemed unpalatable for societal consumption were debates around whether masks were effective and whether lockdowns were justified when considering their adverse health outcomes.”
“The stance taken by some commentators at this network was that masks are not effective in containing outbreaks, particularly when mandated outside in the fresh air. Some also took issue with the frequency and mechanisms of locking down Australians.
“Other commentators vehemently disagreed, and their views were also published.”
“The science is certainly not clear on either of these two points,” Houghton says.
Greens Senator calls for inquiry into Sky News Aus for spreading misinformation
Last week, Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for the government to investigate Sky News Australia for spreading misinformation
