David Icke .Com: The official channel of conspiracy theorist David Icke has been taken down from YouTube. After constantly warning Icke that he had broken its rules by Broadcasting misleading information about the coronavirus pandemic, Google’s video service ultimately took action against him. Mr. Icke’s film, on the other hand, will be permitted to remain online if the content complies with business policies.
It follows a similar ban issued by Facebook
According to a YouTube spokeswoman, any content that doubts the existence and transmission of Covid-19, as defined by the WHO and the NHS, is prohibited. “We’ve taken David Icke’s YouTube channel down due to repeated violations of our rules.” The channel had nearly 900,000 subscribers at the time of its demise. On Friday, Mr. Icke uploaded a video regarding his Facebook ban, which received over 120,000 views. Mr. Icke will not be able to start a new channel as a result of this, according to YouTube. (hippainhelp.com)
The censorship debate has Erupted
Last month, YouTube was forced to erase all conspiracy theory videos incorrectly connecting coronavirus symptoms with 5G mobile phone networks due to an interview with Mr. Icke uploaded by another account.
Finally, the IT firm agreed to block all content that:
- proposes that coronaviruses do not exist
- offers medically unsubstantiated diagnostic information on the virus
- The World Health organizations advice on social separation and self-isolation has been offered by health authorities (WHO)
Following the coronavirus outbreak, certain civil rights organizations have expressed concern about “growing online censorship” by the major social media platforms. “Citizens understand, contextualise, and trust information through an open forum of ideas, not punitive constraints on information sharing,” they remarked on YouTube on April 16. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a UK-based research organization, praised the latest step.
A Facebook Delete page David Icke
According to reports, Facebook has shut down a page associated with conspiracy theorist David Icke after being chastised for letting him propagate falsehoods about the mystery Covid-19 on the platform. Facebook removed a page connected to the former player on Friday after it violated its policies against harmful misinformation. Although the deactivated page had 770,000 followers, a secondary account with over 68,000 followers was still active.
On Twitter, he had a verified account that indicated that it was prioritizing the removal of Covid-19 content when it included a call to action that could cause harm. The Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), an anti-hate organization, had asked social media companies to remove Icke from their platforms, and Facebook was the first to do so. Those who supported the cause included Christian Jessen, Dawn Harper, and Pixie McKenna, among others.
Is it true that lying has been outlawed on social media? Take it with a grain of salt
The attacks on mobile phone masts in the UK and abroad occur at a time when baseless allegations tying coronavirus to the 5G network are causing concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Icke’s conspiracy theories on the Coronavirus have been seen more than 30 million times. The study discovered that Icke is the leading source of misinformation concerning Coronavirus 19 through his videos on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram (Covid-19).
Imran Ahmed, the CCDH’s chief executive, uncovered a wide network of sites and organizations where David Icke’s content was being distributed. “While social media firms profit from the spread of false information on their platforms, individuals all around the world are making enormous sacrifices to stop this pandemic,” he said. “Misinformation puts all of our lives at jeopardy by encouraging people to disregard medical advice.”
Analysis
Marianna Spring, a specialist in disinformation and social media reporting explains. David Icke has spread a number of conspiracy theories on social media throughout the pandemic, drawing the wrath of social media sites and broadcasting regulators alike. In reaction to the health disinformation, he’s been spreading, including a link between 5G and coronavirus, platforms like YouTube have tightened their policies on conspiracy theories.
Hope Not to Hate also praised the move taken against Icke’s social media presence, stating that his “deluded, frequently antisemitic” posts “promote damaging lies to spread.” According to an investigation by the media watchdog Ofcom, a lengthy discussion on London Live with Dr. David Icke about the coronavirus pandemic put the public’s health in danger. During the program, Icke made claims that the epidemic was a cover for a purportedly global world order that wanted to stomp on the economy, abolish cash payments, and track people, all of which have been debunked multiple times.
This is a difficult subject for social media networks to Tackle
On the other hand, conspiracy theories fall into a grey area where companies risk being accused of censorship if they act. In response to the torching of mobile phone towers and the abuse of telecommunications workers, social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok have tightened their restrictions. We need to strike a balance between preventing harmful stories and protecting free speech. Experts argue that with the correct amount of restriction and cooperation, youngsters may achieve both goals.
Mr. Icke’s videos discussing conspiracy theories on social media have been viewed by almost 30 million people. CCDH’s CEO, Imran Ahmed, applauded YouTube for taking action against David Icke’s channel. Despite this, “a network of channels and covert amplifiers is still spreading Mr. Icke’s message [and] needs to be eradicated.” CCDH is now putting pressure on Instagram and Twitter to follow suit.
Biography
David Vaughan Icke, a former footballer from England, is a conspiracy theorist (born 29 April 1952). He wrote and self-published more than 20 books during the 1990s, and he has made presentations in more than 25 countries. He went to see a psychic in 1990, who told him he was here for a reason and that he would hear from the spirit world. He named himself a “Son of the Godhead” in 1991 as a result of this and foretold that the Earth will be devastated by tsunamis and earthquakes in the near future.
He was highly derided by the general population as a result of his appearance. Icke’s publications on New Age conspiracism evolved over the next 11 years. His publisher dropped him after he promoted The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an antisemitic hoax, in The Robots’ Rebellion (1994) and And the Truth Shall Set You Free (1995). (1995). According to Icke, “vibrational” energy and infinite dimensions coexist in the universe.
He claims that the Archons or Anunnaki, a reptilian interdimensional race, have taken over the Earth and that the Babylonian Brotherhood, Illuminati, or “elite,” a genetically modified human–Archon hybrid race, is in charge of manipulating events in order to keep humans terrified so that the Archons can feed off the “negative energy” created as a result.
According to him, the Babylonian Brotherhood will lead to a global fascist rule or New World Order, a post-truth future in which freedom of speech will be outlawed. According to him, the only way to resist the “Archontic” influence is to awaken people to the truth and fill their hearts with love. Critics have interpreted controversial theories concerning reptilian “codes” as anti-Semitic and Holocaust denial.
