YouTube is giving some banned creators a second chance

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YouTube is allowing some of its most infamous former creators to make a comeback, including those banned for spreading COVID-19 misinformation and election disinformation. 

The company announced a new pilot program that gives a select group of previously banned users a shot at starting fresh, as long as their violations fall under policies that YouTube has since retired.

The move comes after months of political pressure, particularly from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), whose congressional committee has been grilling tech companies about alleged censorship. 

YouTube even wrote Jordan a letter spelling it out: creators banned for “repeated violations of COVID-19 and election integrity policies that are no longer in effect” can now reapply for a clean slate.

It’s a notable shift for a platform that, back in the pandemic days, was aggressively scrubbing misinformation, deleting anti-vaccine content, suspending Donald Trump’s account after January 6th, and handing out strikes like candy to conspiracy theorists. 

But times have changed. YouTube relaxed many of those moderation rules in 2023, claiming it wants to better “reflect the new types of discussion and content” popping up online.

In true corporate redemption arc fashion, YouTube says this is all about “second chances.” The company admits it’s evolved, just like its creators. 

But don’t expect a total free-for-all: creators banned for copyright violations, harassment, or “Creator Responsibility” issues (read: being awful off-platform) are still out of luck. 

Also, you’ll have to wait at least a year after your ban before even applying.

YouTube says it’ll judge applicants carefully, weighing the severity of their past offenses and whether they’re still a threat to the YouTube community.

Oh, and the timing? Convenient. Just last month, YouTube agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit from Trump over his 2021 ban. 

Meanwhile, Alphabet’s lawyers are still fighting the DOJ in an antitrust case.

So yes, YouTube’s opening the gates again, but this isn’t a full-on amnesty. It’s more like a carefully supervised reunion, but with a very strict bouncer at the door.