By Dan Molinski

Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube said it has banned Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul from posting videos on its site for seven days for making claims in a now-removed video in which he said "that masks are ineffective in preventing the contraction or transmission of COVID-19."

Sen. Paul said his comments are science-based. "What I said in that video is the actual science," he said in a statement. "Most of the masks you get over the counter don't work. They don't prevent infection."

Sen. Paul's suspension comes shortly after the White House publicly urged social media companies to ban content deemed to be misinformation. On Monday, social media firm Twitter suspended a Republican lawmaker, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, for similar, alleged Covid-19-related comments.

Write to Dan Molinski at dan.molinski@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 11, 2021 20:51 ET (00:51 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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