YouTube to battle mail-in voting misinformation with info panel on videos

YouTube announced new measures Thursday to curb misinformation on its platform, including those campaigns targeting mail-in voting.

The measures include changes to search results for congressional and presidential candidates, adding informative panels about candidates before displaying video search results, according to a press release.

“As we approach November 3, we’re working hard to make YouTube a more reliable source for news and information, as well as an open platform for healthy political discourse,” said Leslie Miller, YouTube’s VP of government affairs and public policy.

Beginning Thursday, videos on the subject of mail-in voting will include an info panel under the video directing users to a report from the think tank Bipartisan Policy Center.

The report is titled “Voting by Mail Counts” and clarifies potential misinformation about mail-in voting leading to fraud, a common talking point by President Trump and Attorney General William Barr.

Despite Trump’s claims of mail-in ballots leading to widespread voter fraud in the Nov. 3 election, multiple state officials in charge of counting and handling ballots have repeatedly disputed such claims that Election Day will be wrought with fraudulent votes.

The president’s claims have led some social media platforms such as Twitter to flag posts about mail-in voter fraud as misleading.

YouTube also said users would be provided “timely reminders” about how to register to vote and additional information about how to volunteer at polls provided by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.