YouTube have deleted conspiracy theorist David Icke‘s account for violating its policies on sharing information about coronavirus.
The 68-year-old has made several unproven claims about the virus on social media, including a discredited theory linking it to the 5G mobile network, blaming Jewish cults and claiming it cannot be transmitted through physical contact.
The former football commentator, who has also claimed the world is run by reptiles and the royal family are lizards, also had his page on Facebook removed from the site on Friday and the broadcaster London Live was sanctioned for a recent interview with him.
YouTube, which is owned by Google, told the BBC: “YouTube has clear policies prohibiting any content that disputes the existence and transmission of Covid-19 as described by the WHO and the NHS.
“Due to continued violation of these policies we have terminated David Icke’s YouTube channel.”
Several famous medics including Dr Christian Jessen, of Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, and former junior doctor Adam Kay have called on social networks to remove Icke from their platforms.
They are backed by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), who claim Mr Icke’s conspiracies over Covid-19 have been viewed more than 30 million times.
“We commend YouTube on bowing to pressure and taking action on David Icke’s channel,” said CCDH’s chief executive Imran Ahmed.
“However, there remains a network of channels and shadowy amplifiers, who promote Mr Icke’s content [and] need to be removed.”
They asked for other networks to follow the lead, and added: “It is time for Instagram and Twitter to follow Facebook and YouTube by acting to remove Icke and his content from their platforms.
“Lies cost lives in a global pandemic, and their failure to act promptly puts us all at risk.”
Before his YouTube account was deleted, it had 899,000 subscribers.
