Russia has reportedly threatened to ban YouTube after the Google-owned video platform deleted two German-language channels operated by the Russian state media over alleged COVID-19 misinformation. Ever since the start of the pandemic, misinformation has been rampant on social media, with many conspiracy theorists and pseudo-experts spreading half-truths and statements that directly contradict scientific consensus.
Facing severe criticism from experts and activists for not doing enough to prevent the flood of online misinformation, most tech companies and social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, are trying to be more proactive in fighting fake news related to the pandemic and, have suspended or deleted thousands of accounts over the past eighteen months. One of the most high-profile suspensions in recent times was the Sky New Australia YouTube account that was suspended last month for promoting unproven COVID 'treatments' including hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin.
Following alleged COVID-19 misinformation campaigns, YouTube accounts RT DE (RT Germany) and Der Fehlende Part, or "The Missing Part", were recently deleted by the Google-owned website. According to Euronews Next, YouTube explained both channels had breached its COVID misinformation policy by contradicting accredited medical information from the WHO or local health authorities. The company further claimed that RT DE was even issued a warning for the violation, which left the channel unable to upload videos for one week. However, instead of withdrawing the errant content, the Russian state media outlet reportedly used the Der Fehlende Part channel to circumvent the suspension on RT DE, leading to the permanent ban for both channels.
The Russian government has now gone on the offensive, reportedly referring to the ban as "information warfare." The Russian foreign ministry reportedly responded by accusing YouTube of working with Germen authorities to silence media outlets that do not subscribe to the German government's view of COVID-19. The Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor also accused YouTube of censorship and demanded that the two channels be restored at the earliest. For its part, the German government has denied allegations of colluding with YouTube, saying that the decision to ban the channels was solely that of the video-sharing website.
Russia has often been accused of spreading misinformation, and while much of that has centered around the 2016 and 2020 US presidential elections, there have also been accusations linked to COVID-related information. Last month, Facebook also claimed to have removed thousands of accounts that were largely run out of Russia and spreading conspiracy theories about the pandemic, including bizarre allegations that some of the COVID-19 vaccines can turn humans into chimpanzees.
Source: Euronews Next
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