LANSING — Today, Republican candidate for governor of Michigan Garrett Soldano announced that YouTube had banned him for life because he has repeatedly violated the website’s guidelines for prohibiting posts that contradict health authorities. According to the Detroit News, Soldano, a chiropractor, had posted videos on YouTube and Facebook, where he also seems to have a significant reach, with incorrect claims such as:
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Masks can physically harm children
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Those who’ve been infected don’t need to get vaccinated
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Masks are “face diapers”
Dr. Farhan Bhatti, a family physician in Lansing and Michigan State Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care, released the following statement in response to YouTube’s ban of Soldano:
“I applaud YouTube for taking a stand against patently and demonstrably false information about COVID-19, including Mr. Soldano’s reckless disinformation videos. Physicians like me on the front lines continue to persuade adults and eligible children to take the safe, effective vaccine and wear masks. On top of caring for sick patients, we need all the help we can get to combat COVID-19 falsehoods. While doctors and nurses are facing threats from misinformed patients, Soldano has been stoking the fire against us and endangering the lives of his supporters for political gain. We hope other platforms will follow suit to hold Soldano accountable for his dangerous online communications and help us prevent more deaths due to COVID-19.”
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