Sandy Hook's lawyer welcomes YouTube's decision, but says it's "too late to abuse the prejudice" caused

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"Sandy Hook arrived almost seven years ago, and all the while, customers were subjected to hostile messages on YouTube, which spread this false story and caused harassment, threats, and misconceptions. that they were trying to heal, "said the lawyer. Josh Koskoff, told CNN Business in a phone interview. "At the same time, better late than never."

The families of Sandy Hook's victims have been harassed for years because of conspiracy theories on YouTube and other social media platforms.
One of the dominant conspiracy theories was that the shootout was a fake flag staged to garner support for the implementation of gun control measures. Alex Jones, a right-wing conspiracy theorist and founder of InfoWars, who was one of the leading presenters of this theory, was sued by Sandy Hook families in Texas and Connecticut courts.
Jones was banned by YouTube and other social media platforms in 2018. In an affidavit taken earlier this year, Jones acknowledged that the shooting was real and that it was "a form of psychosis which led him to believe that the scene had been staged. .
YouTube, which has faced scrutiny for the spread of hatred and harassment on its platform, said Wednesday it has updated its policy banning videos that deny what it qualifies as "free". "well documented events". The company said in its press release that the policy would apply to the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which killed 26 people.

Koskoff said that although it may be too late to help his clients, this move will help avoid the "extra pain" that future families may face if their loved ones were involved in a shootout and the people posted "scandalously theories" on YouTube.

YouTube's decision was also greeted by Lenny Pozner, father of a victim of Sandy Hook, who created the HONR network, which monitors the spread of fake information online.

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Pozner told CNN Business "It is impossible to calculate the damage caused by these videos". But he added, "We thank YouTube for taking the initiative to adopt the policy changes we have been recommending for five years."

YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Koskoff and Pozner have called on other social media companies to follow YouTube's example.

"All social media platforms that have not taken this step must look in the mirror and decide if they want to continue to facilitate harassment and hatred nowadays, where it has serious consequences," he said. Koskoff to CNN.

Pozner added that he also hoped that "Twitter and other hosting platforms would follow in the implementation and application of more socially responsible policies".

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