ANDouTube has announced the closure of the German-language channels of Russia Today, a television broadcaster funded by the Russian state. The ban came due to an alleged violation of the “coronavirus disinformation policy”. Russia Today’s channels had already been warned by YouTube but, according to Google’s platform, they attempted to evade the suspension. From Russia, YouTube’s choice was met with strong controversy.
YouTube cancels the German-language channels of Russia Today: the Russian government does not take it well
The ban, which came due to violations of coronavirus disinformation policies, was welcomed by the Russian government as an act of “information warfare”. In retaliation, Russia may now block German media in Russia. According to spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, the goal of the YouTube ban on Russia Today is “to drown information sources that do not fit into a media background that is comfortable for the German authorities”
The location of YouTube
A YouTube spokesperson officially commented on the matter. Reportedly, Russia Today had already received a warning for uploading content that violated the COVID disinformation policy. As a result of this came the suspension of their right of publication. Russia Today has tried to evade the execution of the suspension using a second channel. Following the YouTube terms of service, the ban was triggered.