/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2018/N/J/D8Qab2QiqUpwQHZIjCgA/2018-08-06t095242z-81477037-rc1dc77112a0-rtrmadp-3-apple-infowars.jpg "Alex Jones em 2016 (Foto: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo)")
Content is considered conspiracy theory; editor claims censorship.
Apple, YouTube, Facebook and Spotify have removed podcasts and channels from a Web site with content considered conspiracy theory, authored by American Alex Jones. Companies said on Monday (6) that the author of the Infowars website had violated community standards.
The moves are the most comprehensive actions undertaken by internet companies so far to suspend or remove part of content based on conspiracies.
Since the founding of the 1999 Infowars website, Jones has garnered a wide audience by promoting theories that the September 11, 2001, attacks were staged by the government.
Facebook said it removed the pages "by glorifying violence, which violates our graphic violence policy, and by using inhumane language to describe transsexuals, Muslims and immigrants, which violates our hate speech policy."
Infowars general editor Paul Joseph Watson said on Twitter that sweeping removals represent censorship and were intended to help Democrats in national elections later this year.
"Infowars is widely credited for having played a key role in the election of Donald Trump. By banning Infowars, large companies are involved in electoral interference only three months before crucial polls," Watson wrote in Infowars.
Neither Jones nor a representative of Infowars were available to comment on the matter.
Ales Jones's Alphabet YouTube channel on Monday showed a warning that the account had been terminated for violating community guidelines, and a company spokeswoman added by e-mail that repeated policy violations, such as those that prohibit the hate speech and persecution led to the termination of accounts.
Apple removed most of the iTunes Podcasts from Infowars and a spokeswoman said in a statement that the company "does not tolerate hate speech" and publishes guidelines that developers and publishers must follow.
"Podcasts that violate these guidelines are removed from our directory, making them no longer searchable or available for download or streaming," Apple said in a statement.
"We believe in representing a wide range of viewpoints, as long as people are respectful of divergent opinions."
Only one program provided by Infowars, "RealNews with David Knight," remained on Apple platforms on Monday. BuzzFeed previously reported that the iPhones maker had removed the library from five of Infowars' six podcasts, including the "War Room" programs and the "The Alex Jones Show" daily.
The Spotify music and podcast application said on Monday it had removed all Infowars programs from its platform after withdrawing some programs last week.
One representative said that Spotify has taken serious reports of hate content. "Due to repeated violations of Spotify's banned content policies, the 'Alex Jones Show' has lost access to the platform."
Facebook had already suspended the Infowars radio and personal profile for 30 days at the end of July because of what the company defined as intimidation and hate speech.
The moves are the most comprehensive actions undertaken by internet companies so far to suspend or remove part of content based on conspiracies.
Since the founding of the 1999 Infowars website, Jones has garnered a wide audience by promoting theories that the September 11, 2001, attacks were staged by the government.
Facebook said it removed the pages "by glorifying violence, which violates our graphic violence policy, and by using inhumane language to describe transsexuals, Muslims and immigrants, which violates our hate speech policy."
Infowars general editor Paul Joseph Watson said on Twitter that sweeping removals represent censorship and were intended to help Democrats in national elections later this year.
"Infowars is widely credited for having played a key role in the election of Donald Trump. By banning Infowars, large companies are involved in electoral interference only three months before crucial polls," Watson wrote in Infowars.
Neither Jones nor a representative of Infowars were available to comment on the matter.
Ales Jones's Alphabet YouTube channel on Monday showed a warning that the account had been terminated for violating community guidelines, and a company spokeswoman added by e-mail that repeated policy violations, such as those that prohibit the hate speech and persecution led to the termination of accounts.
Apple removed most of the iTunes Podcasts from Infowars and a spokeswoman said in a statement that the company "does not tolerate hate speech" and publishes guidelines that developers and publishers must follow.
"Podcasts that violate these guidelines are removed from our directory, making them no longer searchable or available for download or streaming," Apple said in a statement.
"We believe in representing a wide range of viewpoints, as long as people are respectful of divergent opinions."
Only one program provided by Infowars, "RealNews with David Knight," remained on Apple platforms on Monday. BuzzFeed previously reported that the iPhones maker had removed the library from five of Infowars' six podcasts, including the "War Room" programs and the "The Alex Jones Show" daily.
The Spotify music and podcast application said on Monday it had removed all Infowars programs from its platform after withdrawing some programs last week.
One representative said that Spotify has taken serious reports of hate content. "Due to repeated violations of Spotify's banned content policies, the 'Alex Jones Show' has lost access to the platform."
Facebook had already suspended the Infowars radio and personal profile for 30 days at the end of July because of what the company defined as intimidation and hate speech.
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