Today: 3 August 2025
1 August 2021
2 mins read

YouTube bans Sky News Australia for a week

YouTube did not disclose which videos were spreading misinformation, but stated there were “numerous”…reports Asian Lite News

Google-owned video sharing platform YouTube has restrained Sky News Australia from uploading new videos or live streams for a week over spreading of misinformation on Covid-19 pandemic, media reports said on Sunday.

YouTube did not disclose which videos were spreading misinformation, but stated there were “numerous”, the Guardian reported.

The video sharing platform said that it doesn’t “allow content that denies the existence of Covid-19 or that encourages people to use hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin to treat or prevent the virus”.

“We do allow for videos that have sufficient countervailing context, which the violative videos did not provide,” a YouTube spokesperson was quoted as saying to Guardian Australia.

However, Sky News Australia said it “expressly rejects” claims that any hosts ever denied the existence of Covid-19 and that “no such videos were ever published or removed”, the report said.

The TV channel’s YouTube channel with 1.85m subscribers was also issued a strike, under Youtube’s three-strike policy. A third “strike” in the same 90-day period will mean permanent removal from the video sharing platform.


“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,” the spokesperson said.

“We apply our policies equally for everyone regardless of uploader, and in accordance with these policies and our long-standing strikes system, removed videos from and issued a strike to Sky News Australia’s channel,” the spokesperson added.

Sky News is, owned by a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, and the temporary ban will impact its revenue stream from Google.

The ban was triggered after veteran Sky presenter Alan Jones on July 12 with MP Craig Kelly claimed Delta Covid variant was not as dangerous as the original and vaccines would not help. Australia’s Daily Telegraph last week ended the column Jones wrote for it. The Sky News website issued an apology on July 19.

Meanwhile, the TV channel’s digital editor said the decision was a disturbing attack on the ability to think freely, the BBC reported quoting an article on the Sky News Australia website.

If conversation about Australia’s Covid-19 policies were stifled “our political leaders will be free to act with immunity, without justification and lacking any sufficient scrutiny from the public”, Jack Houghton wrote.

ALSO READ: National Gallery of Australia to return 14 ‘looted’ artworks to India

Previous Story

Taliban revenge killings on rise again

Next Story

UK to boost cycling, walking in bid to go greener

Latest from -Top News

US Mulls Terror Tag for Muslim Brotherhood

The US’ plan to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group comes after a bipartisan bill was introduced by Republican Congressman…reports Asian Lite News The US is once again edging closer

Hamas Sets Terms For Disarmament

HAMAS: ‘The resistance and its weapons will not be abandoned until our full national rights are restored, foremost among which is the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state’ Hamas affirmed

Statehood For Palestine

Analysts see the general move as a deliberate push to revive a stagnant peace process long controlled by Israel, Hamas and the United States, all of whom, they say, have shown little

IBPC Dubai charts new growth path

Former Tata Motors CEO Ravi Kant headlines exclusive event as Indian business council sets course for transformation….reports Asian Lite News The Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai has signalled a significant

Miles in the Malls!

Dubai Mallathon kicks off today – The emirate’s biggest malls transform into indoor fitness arenas, inviting residents to walk, run, and win — all while staying cool, healthy, and community-connected….reports Asian Lite
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Beijing aims to ban private companies from broadcasting news

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released the “Market

ADNEC and WAM to organise Global Media Congress 2022

The conference agenda includes 30 dialogue sessions focusing on 3