Representative Billy Long's new campaign ad posted last week was removed by YouTube due to violation of guidelines, a move he called "un-American" late Thursday.
Long, from Missouri, is not the only GOP lawmaker to face removal of ads from YouTube. Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky were suspended after posting comments about COVID-19, the Associated Press reported.
"I am not alone in getting canceled by YouTube," Long said in a news release. He cited former President Donald Trump's Twitter ban, which caused him to be unable to communicate with American people.
Long blamed "Big Tech" for the removal of his ad, according to a statement to The Kansas City Star.
"This behavior by YouTube is un-American and straight from the communist playbook," he said. "Removing my ad proves my point that Big Tech certainly has and will continue to influence elections."
In Long's new ad, according to the Springfield News-Leader, he promoted 2020 election conspiracy theories, stating that Democrats rigged the election for President Joe Biden to win.
Last June, Johnson posted comments about alternative therapies for COVID-19, causing YouTube to suspend his account, which he called "COVID censorship," according to AP.
In August, Paul was suspended for claiming cloth masks do not prevent COVID-19 infections. He called his suspension a "badge of honor" on his Twitter page, according to AP. He also twice posted a video with COVID misinformation, according to The Kansas City Star.
YouTube removed Long's ad for violating their guidelines, according to AP. Ivy Choi, YouTube spokeswoman, said the guidelines "prohibit content uploaded after official election results were certified advancing false claims that widespread fraud, errors or glitches changed the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election."
There has been no credible evidence the presidential election was tainted, with judges appointed by Trump rejecting the claims, as well.
Long voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania and, according to The Kansas City Star, called Biden's inauguration "a day that will live in infamy."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
