YouTube issued one strike against the Western Standard for reporting on a Calgary police officer who was put on leave for refusing the COVID-19 vaccinations..YouTube sent the notification via e-mail to Derek Fildebrandt, president and CEO of the Western Standard, on Wednesday, and stated the video included in the story violates YouTube’s “medical misinformation policy.”.“YouTube doesn’t allow claims about COVID-19 vaccinations that contradict expert consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization (WHO),” said the e-mail..“YouTube banned our account for sharing content that contradicted the advice of the WHO and local health authorities,” said Fildebrandt..“But the WHO and local health authorities contradict themselves. One such health authority, Alberta Health Services (AHS), had to contradict itself after the Western Standard caught them lying to Albertans about which they falsely claimed was a COVID-19 death of a child.”.The notice indicated YouTube had removed the video stating, “We know this might be disappointing, but it’s important to us that YouTube is a safe place for all.”.In the video, an emotional Const. Brian Denison, a 24-year veteran with the Calgary Police Service (CPS), explained the turmoil he has faced for refusing to be vaccinated by the December 1 deadline set out by the CPS..Denison, one year from retirement, called the vaccine policy a “farce” and said the CPS is “bullying” staff. He also described the segregation of society into the “vaccinated and unvaccinated” as similar to Hitler’s Nazi regime..The Western Standard’s News Editor Dave Naylor covered the story in an unbiased fashion and included the video of Denison..“Your channel now has one strike,” said YouTube in the e-mail, adding Western Standard’s account has been suspended for one week..The YouTube team further warned a second strike will result in a two-week suspension and three strikes within a 90-day period would result in the channel being permanently removed..“YouTube — like other big tech and big social corporations — is so terrified of being regulated by the government that it over-regulates itself,” said Fildebrandt..“In time, these monopolies will destroy themselves.”.The Western Standard has already submitted an appeal to YouTube and contacted their press department, as well as moved the video in question to Rumble..“Of all the social media giants, YouTube has the weakest monopoly,” said Fildebrandt..“They can ban the Western Standard and other media from posting legitimate news content all they like, and we’ll just put it on other platforms. That’s why we’ve been making a concerted effort to utilize platforms with a greater respect for free speech, like Rumble.”.The Western Standard did not receive a response from YouTube’s press department in time for publishing..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
