YouTube Pulls 4 Videos From Alex Jones’ InfoWars

“The first amendment is under assault,” Jones tells TheWrap

YouTube removed four videos from InfoWars, the conspiracy-minded radio show headed by Alex Jones, also issuing the channel a “strike.” Three strikes in a 90 day period can lead to a permanent termination from YouTube, according to website rules.

“YouTube has removed four InfoWars videos that were critical of Islamic terrorism and mass immigration, and hit the Alex Jones Channel with a community strike,” said InfoWars in a post titled, “Sharia-Compliant YouTube Removes Videos Criticizing Islamic Immigration.”

“The strikes go against YouTube’s own policy, which explains that it is permissible to post graphic content ‘in a news, documentary, scientific or artistic context’ so long as it is not gratuitous,” the media outlet contended.

The videos appear to be standard InfoWars fare. One shows a grown man pushing a young child to the ground and jokes about “liberalism.” Another warns that transgender individuals are Satanic. A third warns of Muslim migrants taking over Europe.

Reached by phone, Jones told TheWrap that YouTube’s actions were a threat to the first amendment.

“The dying dinosaur of corporate media is frothing and champing at the bit to set a precedent to ban independent or alternative media,” he said. “Once one domino falls, they all begin to fall. The first amendment is under assault.”

YouTube defended its decision in a statement to TheWrap.

“We have long standing policies against child endangerment and hate speech. We apply our policies consistently according to the content in the videos, regardless of the speaker or the channel,” said the company. “We also have a clear three strikes policy and we terminate channels when they receive three strikes in three months.”

News of the video removals from InfoWars’ YouTube channel and subsequent strike against the brand was first reported by InfoWars.

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