YouTube allowed right-wing figures to undermine the 2024 election before the votes were even cast

By reversing its election misinformation policies last year, YouTube allowed members of the right-wing media to undermine confidence in the 2024 election results even before votes were cast, with streamers claiming that “the only way the left can win this election is if it’s stolen.” suggesting that “illegal ballots” may have been “slipped” in Pennsylvania, and claiming that Democrats are trying to “rig and steal the election,” including with the help of an “illegal alien.” push.”

In December 2020, after states certified election results, YouTube began deletion content with false claims that widespread fraud changed the outcome of the election, but the platform inverted this policy in June 2023, saying it would “stop removing content that makes false claims about widespread fraud, errors, or glitches that occurred in the 2020 presidential election and other past U.S. presidential elections.” (The solution was welcomed right-wing media.)

Over the past year, right-wing writers have taken advantage Cancel YouTube policyespecially in the months leading up to the 2024 presidential elections. For example, in July Media Matters reported that after Lara Trump became co-chair of the Republican National Committee in March, she repeatedly denied the election on her YouTube show.

Even right-wing podcaster Steven Crowder recognized policy changed during an August broadcast on the platform, saying: “Here’s another way they’re trying to steal this election from you. And now we’re allowed to say it on YouTube, which is great.”