RT remains available on public television, which is regulated by Ofcom. The watchdog said on Monday it had opened 15 investigations into the “required impartiality” of the channel’s programming for compliance with the broadcasting code.
YouTube said: “Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, we are blocking YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik across Europe, effective immediately. It will take time for our systems to be fully operational. Our teams continue to monitor the situation around the clock to act quickly.”
Russia Today has over 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube, while Sputnik has over 300,000. The channels remain offline in other parts of the world.
YouTube had said over the weekend that it would block Russian state media from making money from ads and prevent them from appearing in video recommendations.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, on Monday blocked access to broadcasters on its social networks across the EU.
Sir Nick Clegg, its chairman of global affairs, said: “We have received requests from a number of governments and the EU to take further action in relation to Russian state-controlled media. Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will restrict access to RT and Sputnik across the EU for the time being. »
TikTok also blocked channels, while Twitter said it would label links to Russian state media. The moves came after the EU said it would ban Kremlin-backed channels across the bloc.
Ofcom’s investigations relate to 15 editions of the channel’s television news broadcast on Sunday, and could lead to its removal from the airwaves.
“When we cover armed conflict, we recognize that it can be difficult for broadcasters to verify news and events, but it is imperative that they do all they can to do so. They must also make it clear to the public where there is uncertainty or where events are disputed,” Ofcom chief Melanie Dawes said.
The channel has been criticized by Boris Johnson. On Sunday the Prime Minister said: ‘The things that RT are peddling at the moment do a lot of damage to the truth, and I think it’s important that Ofcom looks into it and decides whether this organization is breaking the rules of this country.
Meanwhile, Netflix has refused to comply with Russian laws requiring the streaming giant to transport its state-backed broadcasters, in a show of defiance against the crisis in Ukraine.
The streaming site which hosts programs such as The Crown and The Tinder Swindler said it would not abide by new rules that came into force on Tuesday, requiring broadcasters with more than 100,000 subscribers to broadcast 20 news channels, free sports and entertainment. .
“Given the current situation, we have no plans to add these channels to our service,” Netflix said.
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Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-03-01 10:27:16
