Apple, Facebook, YouTube all remove content from Alex Jones
Top technology companies erased most content on their services from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, thrusting themselves into a debate over their role in regulating what is said online.
Apple, Google, Facebook and Spotify severely restricted the reach of Mr. Jones and Infowars, his right-wing site that has been a leading peddler of false information online, one of the tech companies’ most direct actions against misinformation. Mr. Jones and Infowars have used social media for years to spread bizarre theories, such as that the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax and that Democrats run a global child-sex ring. Apple moved Sunday; the others followed Monday.
The actions represent a dilemma for the companies. They have long desired to combat misinformation online, but they have also been reluctant to be arbiters of truth.
But since a rise of misinformation online around elections, the companies have faced calls from lawmakers and the media to address their role in the spread of false information and an increase in partisan divisions. The tech companies have recently stepped up enforcement — but that has led to accusations of bias, largely from thepolitical right.
The past two days helped fuel that debate.
Apple on Sunday removed five of six Infowars podcasts on its Podcasts app. Of the move, a spokeswoman said, “Apple does not tolerate hate speech.”
Facebook, Spotify and Google’s YouTube site, which for weeks had faced calls to remove Infowars content, followed suit Monday. Facebook removed pages belonging to Mr. Jones for violating its policies by “glorifying violence” and “using dehumanizing language to describe people who are transgender, Muslims and immigrants.”
YouTube terminated Mr. Jones’ channel, which had more than 2.4 million subscribers and billions of views on its videos, for repeatedly violating its policies, including its prohibition on hate speech. Spotify cited its own prohibition on hate speech as the reason for removing a podcast by Mr. Jones.