YouTube demotes flat-earthers, conspiracy theorists

SAN FRANCISCO - YouTube said Friday it will stop recommending specious videos such as those claiming the Earth is flat or promoting bogus theories about the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The global video streaming service planned to modify its viewing recommendation system gradually, starting in the United States and later expanding to other countries. Google-owned YouTube, part of the Alphabet holding, said it is scrutinizing how to reduce the spread of content that comes close to but doesn't quite cross the line of violating its community guidelines. "To that end, we'll begin reducing recommendations of borderline content and content that could misinform users in harmful ways," YouTube said in a blog post. "Such as videos promoting a phony miracle cure for a serious illness, claiming the earth is flat, or making blatantly false claims about historic events like 9/11."