YouTube shuts German channels of Russian broadcaster RT

Moscow promises retaliatory measures after video-sharing platform takes action over alleged COVID-19 misinformation.

YouTube has terminated the German channels of Russian state broadcaster RT, a move centred on alleged misinformation related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The US-headquartered video-sharing platform told German media on Tuesday that it had warned RT for violating its guidelines and then shuttered two channels for breaching user terms.

The company, which is owned by Google, told The Associated Press in an email on Wednesday that RT DE had received a “strike” for uploading material that violated YouTube’s standards on COVID-19 misinformation, and as a consequence was suspended from uploading new videos to its channel.