Part 3/11:
Notably, entire YouTube channels faced demonetization or total deplatforming, resulting in the loss of livelihoods for many content creators. Google, in particular, insisted they were not involved in censorship efforts at the time, yet evidence suggests otherwise. These revelations expose a clear contradiction between public denials and internal practices.
COVID-19, Misinformation, and the Climate of Fear
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the suppression of information intensified. Platforms were pressured to implement community notes and fact-checking labels that often aligned with official government and WHO narratives. However, these fact checks were frequently inaccurate or outright false, as post-pandemic reviews have confirmed.