YouTube on Wednesday suspended Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky for breaking the company’s rules against spreading misinformation aboutCOVID-19.
In the offending video, the Republican senator denounces the effectiveness of wearing masks to ward off the coronavirus.
YouTube, owned by Google, confirmed the suspension.
The suspension comes as COVID-19 cases have surged because of the highly contagious delta variant.
Some counties, including many in Google’s home state of California, have reinstated indoor mask mandates.
Medical experts have said thatcloth masks are effective.
That is definitely the consensus among scientists."
The infraction gave Paul his first strike under YouTube’s three-strikes policy.
A second strike within a 90-day window comes with a two-week suspension.
A third strike results in a permanent ban.
Paul’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
