YouTube blocks global access to Russian state-funded media channels | Hacker News Reader

YouTube blocks global access to Russian state-funded media channels

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30 pointssndean24 comments

With all this blocking of state-funded media channels, they should block CBC in Canada. I can't speak to a lot of other media outlets, but if we're okay with big tech just blocking anything willy nilly, they should at least do it consistently across the board.

This is so pathetic and disappointing. RT produces some very good journalism. CrossTalk [1] is an excellent show. Going Underground & Worlds Apart [2,3] also good. Yes, there is some propaganda and bias on RT but the same is also true of the BBC, the ABC in Australia, and pretty much all state/corporate media. What's important is that by drawing from a variety of sources you should be less influenced by the propagandistic elements, because usually they need to go unchallenged to be most persuasive. YouTube has really shown its hand here and I'm frankly disgusted by the censoring action it has taken.

[1] https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/

[2] https://www.rt.com/shows/going-underground/

[3] https://www.rt.com/shows/worlds-apart-oksana-boyko/

There is no comparison between public (not state) broadcasters like the Australian ABC or the BBC and propaganda arms of totalitarian governments. It's not simply a matter of bias. RT exists purely to spread Kremlin propaganda, all else is secondary and serves the primary aim (e.g. the odd well-made documentary or show attracting viewership for the main event, e.g. pushing blatant wartime propaganda).

You may agree or disagree with the idea of banning propaganda arms of authoritarian regimes on YouTube, of course. But that's a separate issue from your off-base comparison.

I'm aware that the BBC and the ABC tout themselves as 'public' broadcasters but it's a self-serving fiction. The ABC is the one I am most familiar with so I will speak to that example. It is completely state funded and its board is appointed by the Australian government. I have grown up in Australia watching the ABC (I very rarely watch commercial/corporate TV) and I have seen it increasingly become a mouthpiece for the state, just as you are accusing RT of being (and I don't disagree). The coverage by the ABC of the Ukrainian conflict has been pathetic and almost completely partisan.

> RT exists purely to spread Kremlin propaganda, all else is secondary and serves the primary aim

Yes, just like RadioFreeAsia, VoiceOfAmerica, RadioFarda, etcetcetc

But you don't care to mention these because they fit the "good guys" narrative

It's fascinating to watch this ban fest. Especially since now not all popular services are US or even western based.

Is WhatsApp going to ban Russians next?

Looks like everything is being politicized. Controlling media, Censorship are usually a sign of weakness.

The Great Firewall comes to the US

I don't like the move but this isn't remotely similar to the great firewall.

> this isn't remotely similar to the great firewall.

China uses the same justifications to block Western news sources, with the goal of reducing dissent and maintaining harmony.

There's almost certainly truth in this claim of propaganda, but I don't see a big difference in the mindset, reasons, and methods (government applying pressure to social media companies). This may be "right", but it's definitely similar in many aspects.

In the case of YouTube, though, isn't this a decision made not by the state but by a corporate entity? In the case of China, censorship is top-down, whereas many of the corporate pull-outs from Russia are being driven differently. It's possible that that governmental pressure has been applied to YouTube, but the article doesn't specifically mention it. If Russian state media wants to get its word out despite the YouTube ban, it's free to seek other means of distribution, whereas the distribution of prohibited content in China is still subject to government restriction.

In this case the corporation is acting as a proxy for the U.S. government. Banning RT just moves RT watchers over to Rumble, Odysee, etc.

> In this case the corporation is acting as a proxy for the U.S. government.

[citation needed]

RT reports on the details here.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lbvPNI7nYJ0

You're accusing an American company of secretly acting on government orders with RT as your source? I just...nope.

You missed the joke.

Not everything deadpanned is funny.

I can't load that, it's blocked by Youtube.

The actual difference is that China is a repressive, authoritarian nation and the US is more-or-less a free country.

It's not like YouTube is obligated to be neutral - the invasion of Ukraine is horrifying and YouTube is well within their rights to think so and take action by deplatforming Russian state media. It's unlikely that they were even _asked_ to do this by the United States; given that YouTube actually gives a shit about free expression and democracy it makes sense that they'd ban RT on their own. That goes double now that Russia is banning western media left and right as Putin cracks down on dissent.

The "big difference in mindset" is that Russia is actually doing something awful.

Wouldn't it be funny if YouTube were to also ban UAE and Saudi Arabia media because of their apologia of the genocide in Yemen?

But of course, we all know that won't ever happen

That would be hilarious, or at the very least, I will fake all the necessary mirth to make it count.

Well, yeah. If US-Saudi relations deteriorated even a little bit I'm sure YouTube would get itchy trigger fingers.

The price of being a global company is that you're gonna end up doing business in some awful places.

That doesn't mean you have to be consistent about enabling shitheads.

The forbidden fruit tastes so much sweeter.

Good

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