YouTube blocks Russian state-funded media channels worldwide, World News
YouTube said it was blocking state-funded Russian media channels worldwide “with immediate effect” while citing a policy banning content that denies, minimizes or trivializes well-documented violent events.
Announcing the move on Twitter, YouTube said on Friday that while the change was effective immediately, “we expect our systems to take time to ramp up.”
“Our Community Guidelines prohibit content that denies, minimizes or trivializes well-documented violent events, and we remove content about the Russian invasion of Ukraine that violates this policy. In line with this, with immediate effect, we are also blocking related YouTube channels to Russian state-funded media, globally,” YouTube said in a statement.
YouTube added that when people search for topics about Russia and Ukraine, “our systems highlight authoritative news content in our Top News and Breaking News shelves, and will continue to do so as needed.”
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The US-based video platform previously blocked channels, particularly Russia Today and Sputnik, across Europe. It had also blocked YouTube ads and suspended ad sales in Russia.
Russian state media have called restrictions imposed on them by distributors, including app stores and other social media services, unwarranted censorship.
“The blocking by YouTube is nothing but another twist in an atrocious attack on one of the fundamental principles of a democratic society, namely the freedom of the press,” Sputnik said in a statement on Friday. communicated.
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YouTube declined to say which and how many channels had been blocked globally, or if they would ever be restored.
(With agency contributions)