A judge has scheduled an emergency hearing concerning allegations that YouTube censored Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s campaign.

In a recent development, Kennedy, Jr. has taken legal action against YouTube, alleging that the platform took unwarranted actions against his campaign, Fox News reported.

Details of the lawsuit

The campaign informed the public that federal Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins will conduct a hearing on Kennedy's initiative.

Kennedy's request is for a temporary restraining order that would prevent Google from censoring his speech on YouTube during the course of his 2024 presidential campaign.

The hearing is set to occur at 11 a.m. local time Wednesday in the federal courthouse located in San Jose, California.

Kennedy's complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California against Google and its wholly owned subsidiary, YouTube, just last week.

The lawsuit suggests that Google has collaborated with the federal government to create and enforce "misinformation" policies.

These policies, according to the lawsuit, were used to censor the government’s political adversaries, including Kennedy himself.

Allegations against video streaming giant YouTube

The complaint further states that such actions infringe upon the First Amendment rights. This is especially true, it says, when these actions stem from a partnership between the public and private sectors, and when the private entity, in this case Google, aligns with the government’s censorship objectives.

The complaint highlighted:

Mr. Kennedy often speaks at length about topics people would like to ignore, including the negative health effects of toxic chemicals and potential safety concerns about the COVID-19 shots. YouTube often removes videos of Mr. Kennedy’s comments from its public platform. It usually relies on its ‘medical misinformation’ policies to justify the action.

Reactions to the lawsuit

The lawsuit also mentions that YouTube has relied on these policies multiple times to censor Kennedy's interviews and speeches during his 2024 presidential campaign.

This includes a speech he delivered at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.

Scott Street, the attorney spearheading the litigation, expressed gratitude towards Judge Cousins for recognizing the significance of this matter.

Street emphasized the societal implications of such censorship, stating that society would be at a loss if the censorship persisted.

Kennedy's campaign also highlighted the importance of YouTube as a platform for political discourse in America. They referred to it as a "digital town square" that voters trust for news and opinions on current issues.

Google's response

However, the campaign also pointed out that Google has censored numerous Americans whose views contradict the narratives of the U.S. government. They labeled Kennedy as the most high-profile victim of this alleged censorship campaign.

In response to these allegations, Google has firmly denied any wrongdoing. A Google spokesperson, José Castañeda, commented on the matter, stating that YouTube enforces its Community Guidelines impartially, transparently, and consistently, irrespective of political viewpoints.

Castañeda said:

These claims are meritless, and we look forward to refuting them.

Similar cases of curbing free speech

The campaign also mentioned that similar cases have been filed across the country.

This includes a case presented by two state attorneys general that was debated in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently.

Kennedy's case stands out because he is seeking an order against Google itself, not government officials. This distinction has been highlighted by his campaign.

Conclusion

• Emergency hearing scheduled for RFK Jr.'s allegations against YouTube.
• Kennedy claims censorship of his campaign by YouTube.
• The lawsuit suggests a collaboration between Google and the federal government.
• Google denies any wrongdoing and looks forward to refuting the claims.