Fox News host Dan Bongino has had his YouTube account temporarily suspended and demonetized for claiming that masks are useless in preventing the coronavirus‘ spread.
On Friday, the right-wing commentator was banned from uploading anything to his channel for a week, according to reports. He has roughly 871,000 subscribers.
The 47-year-old’s suspension reportedly stems from a video he had posted recently where he states masks are ‘useless’ from stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
A YouTube spokesperson declined to reveal what remark specifically prompted Bongino’s removal from company’s monetization program.
Bongino, who received his first of a possible three strikes before he’s banned from the platform entirely, is also demonetized for at least 30 days, per YouTube’s rules and guidelines.
Bongino, who currently hosts shows on Fox News and Fox Nation, will be able to reapply for the program in 30 days if the issues that led to the initial removal are addressed.
Fox News host Dan Bongino, pictured, had his YouTube account temporarily suspended and demonetized after spreading misinformation over COVID-19
Bongino shared a picture of an email, pictured, between himself and a YouTube representative named ‘Coco’ posted to Twitter after his infraction
YouTube also removed Bongino’s channel from its Partner Program, which allows users to monetize their content through advertising for ‘repeatedly violating’ guidelines on harmful and dangerous acts due to his spread of coronavirus misinformation.
YouTube implemented the rule in 2020 to prohibit ‘content about COVID-19 that poses a serious risk of egregious harm.’
The video-sharing social media network doesn’t permit videos with medical misinformation that contradicts local health authorities, such as the World Health Organization.
If Bongino’s channel happens to to violate the policy for second time within a 90-day window, a two-week suspension would be applied.
If a third violation were to occur in the same time-frame, the channel would be permanently banned and deleted.
The Fox News host showed no sign of bowing down, sharing a screen shot of an email between himself and a YouTube representative named ‘Coco’ where he called the website, which is owned by Google, a ‘tyrannical, free speech-hating, bullshit, big tech s***hole.’
‘[I will] immediately post content on why masks have been totally ineffective in stopping this pandemic’ after his suspension is over, he told the rep, while daring YouTube to do something about it.
Bongino, a former 12-year veteran of the Secret Service who once defended former President Barack Obama and George W. Bush, ran for congress in 2013
Bongino, a former 12-year veteran of the Secret Service who once defended former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, ran for congress in 2013.
‘I was behind the scenes for 12 years… I’ve been in the room during some of the most important conversations,’ Bongino told ABC News about the access he had to high-level discussions inside the White House at the time.
Last year, the Washington Post profiled Bongino and his wildly successful podcast and YouTube channel, comparing his riling of the conservative base with former right-wing pundit Rush Limbaugh.
