Platform Invites Thousands of Creators Removed for COVID-19 and Election Content to Return, Citing Past White House Influence

Mountain View, Calif. – September 23, 2025

Google has acknowledged that the Biden administration pressured YouTube to censor content deemed misinformation, particularly related to COVID-19 and the 2020 election, and announced a new policy to reinstate permanently banned accounts affected by those actions.

In a statement released Tuesday, Google committed to reviewing and restoring the accounts of thousands of American creators who were removed from the platform during the pandemic and election period. The move follows years of denials from Big Tech companies regarding government influence on content moderation.

YouTube's policy update allows eligible banned channels to apply for reinstatement, focusing on those suspended for posting content that was controversial at the time but may now align with evolving information standards. The platform emphasized that this step aims to balance community guidelines with broader free speech considerations.

Google's admission came in response to congressional inquiries and aligns with a 2024 House Judiciary Committee report detailing how the Biden White House partnered with tech firms and universities to flag and suppress certain speech. The report highlighted instances where administration officials urged platforms to remove videos on vaccine efficacy, election integrity, and public health topics.

This development marks a significant shift for Alphabet Inc., YouTube's parent company, which previously maintained that content decisions were independent. The reinstatement process will prioritize U.S.-based creators impacted between 2020 and 2022, with initial reviews expected to begin within weeks.

As part of the announcement, Google pledged to enhance transparency in its moderation practices, including public reports on government communications received since 2021.