YouTube is tightening its grip on gun-related content by not only demonetizing firearms channels but also banning them from featuring any gun-related sponsors, even those not affiliated with Google. This move comes despite previous claims that advertiser complaints were behind the action. Instead, it appears that the crackdown is politically motivated, aiming to suppress conservative voices and reduce the influence of gun channels, which often promote constitutional values. Channels will now face strikes and possible removal if they feature gun sponsors, raising concerns about increasing censorship and the future of free speech on the platform.

In 2017, when Google and YouTube first announced that they would be demonetizing several channels (including those with content relating to firearms), they claimed the reason was that sponsors were “complaining” about their advertisements appearing in videos that went against their mission. Put another way, Google’s justification was that it didn’t want to enrage its advertising partners and that ads embedded on channels that featured firearms may give their customers the “wrong impression” about those businesses and their products.

Determining the accuracy of this allegation is difficult. The revelation of ESG and Big Tech’s cooperation with government organizations to block conservative platforms lends credence to the theory that there was likely a systematic corporate campaign on YouTube to stifle the political opposition in addition to an effort to shut them down on social media.

Most conservative content producers realized that stories were what mattered here, not advertisers. The media’s claim that American culture is shifting farther to the left is refuted by the growing popularity of gun channels. Additionally, despite the fact that gun channels mostly concentrate on guns and training, they have supported conservative and constitutional ideals that are a pain in the side of the establishment.

More evidence has emerged to show that the problem was never randomized advertising or complaints from the corporation. Gun-related YouTube channels are complaining that Google/YouTube is not only demonetizing them but also preventing them from showcasing private sponsors who promote firearm-related goods.

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In other words, YouTube attempted to destroy these channels by taking away their financial rewards. That didn’t work because gun channels changed and discovered independent sponsors of their own. Thus, YouTube is stepping it up and refusing to let any sponsor who has anything to do with guns run advertisements on their platform. Furthermore, it seems that Google has the last say on what qualifies as a “gun sponsor”.

The channels will still be able to upload content, but it will get harder and harder for them to monetize it. Videos with sponsors that discuss guns that are uploaded after June 18th will be taken down, and the channel will be given a strike. The channel may be completely canceled as a result of strikes.

Recall that these are outside advertisers who collaborate directly with the content creators—not just any old sponsors who work with Google. There is no possibility that Google will suffer in any kind from the existence of these sponsors. Their decision to forbid them from collaborating directly with producers seems to have political rather than commercial motivations. It also demonstrates Google’s ongoing animosity against open markets.

The decision was made just a few weeks after YouTube modified its official policy about films featuring firearms to include potential age restrictions and to remove certain videos that included how-to guides for producing ammo or altering firearms. This was ostensibly done to stop “ghost gun” and 3D printing content from being published.

Censorship is a real possibility as long as creators depend on heavily centralized and regulated platforms like YouTube. Rarely are these policies changed, and the limitations only get tighter. Since Big Tech is unlikely to ever soften its animosity towards conservative content, other platforms should be investigated (Rumble and Gunstreamer are good places to start).

Recently, GreatGameInternational reported that Mexico has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against major U.S. gun manufacturers, accusing them of flooding the country with firearms used by drug cartels.