YouTube said it would block certain Russian channels from monetising their videos, among other restrictions, owing to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
YouTube said it would block certain Russian channels from monetising their videos, among other restrictions, owing to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
YouTube said it would block certain Russian channels from monetising their videos, among other restrictions, owing to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
YouTube said it would block certain Russian channels from monetising their videos, among other restrictions, owing to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

Business

Technology

Big Tech restricts Russian state media channels ahead of a likely EU ban

Alphabet, Meta and ByteDance have already limited access to accounts run by Sputnik and Russia Today in the EU

Bloomberg

March 01, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are restricting state-owned Russian media channels before a likely EU ban, aiming to curtail propaganda during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The EU announced a ban on Sunday, which countries are expected to sign off on Tuesday after a formal proposal.

In the meantime, YouTube owner Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta Platforms and TikTok owner ByteDance have already restricted access to accounts run by Sputnik and Russia Today in the EU.

“We have received requests from a number of governments and the EU to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, wrote in a tweet.

Ukrainian fighters test an automatic grenade launcher taken from a destroyed Russian infantry vehicle in Kharkiv. AFP
Ukrainian fighters test an automatic grenade launcher taken from a destroyed Russian infantry vehicle in Kharkiv. AFP
Refugees from Ukraine rest after arriving at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland. AP
Refugees from Ukraine rest after arriving at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland. AP
People walk down 17th June Street in Berlin before a rally against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AP
People walk down 17th June Street in Berlin before a rally against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AP
Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev and former heavyweight boxing champion, right, and his brother, Wladimir. AP
Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev and former heavyweight boxing champion, right, and his brother, Wladimir. AP
Khreshchatyk, Kiev’s main street, lies empty as a curfew comes into effect. AP
Khreshchatyk, Kiev’s main street, lies empty as a curfew comes into effect. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation from Kiev. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation from Kiev. AP
On February 27, the seventh anniversary of the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, a note stating ‘No to war!’ is placed among flowers on the central Moscow bridge on which he was shot. AFP
On February 27, the seventh anniversary of the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, a note stating ‘No to war!’ is placed among flowers on the central Moscow bridge on which he was shot. AFP
A member of the Ukrainian forces, wearing the Guy Fawkes mask popularised by Anonymous, patrols central Kiev. AFP
A member of the Ukrainian forces, wearing the Guy Fawkes mask popularised by Anonymous, patrols central Kiev. AFP
Sviatoslav Yurash, 26, a politician from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, poses with his assault rifle as he patrols Kiev. AFP
Sviatoslav Yurash, 26, a politician from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, poses with his assault rifle as he patrols Kiev. AFP
A Ukrainian serviceman and his dog look at smoke from a burning fuel storage depot after a Russian missile attack near Kiev. EPA
A Ukrainian serviceman and his dog look at smoke from a burning fuel storage depot after a Russian missile attack near Kiev. EPA
A refugee who fled conflict in Ukraine rests at a railway station after arriving in Zahony, Hungary. AP
A refugee who fled conflict in Ukraine rests at a railway station after arriving in Zahony, Hungary. AP
A refugee boy who fled Ukraine cries at the railway station in Zahony, Hungary. AP
A refugee boy who fled Ukraine cries at the railway station in Zahony, Hungary. AP
Civil defence members eat during a break at City Hall in Kiev. AP
Civil defence members eat during a break at City Hall in Kiev. AP
An Indian student is embraced by his family at Chennai Airport after returning from Ukraine. EPA
An Indian student is embraced by his family at Chennai Airport after returning from Ukraine. EPA
Smoke is seen rising from behind buildings following bombings in Kiev. Getty
Smoke is seen rising from behind buildings following bombings in Kiev. Getty
An armed civil defence woman holds a Kalashnikov assault rifle while patrolling an empty street in Kiev. AP
An armed civil defence woman holds a Kalashnikov assault rifle while patrolling an empty street in Kiev. AP
A woman fleeing from Ukraine cries as she waits to be taken to a shelter in Zahony, Hungary. Reuters
A woman fleeing from Ukraine cries as she waits to be taken to a shelter in Zahony, Hungary. Reuters
Ukrainian refugees cross the Romanian border at Siret, northern Romania. EPA
Ukrainian refugees cross the Romanian border at Siret, northern Romania. EPA
A residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine. AFP
A residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine. AFP
Apartments damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. AFP
Apartments damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. AFP
A girl protests against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, in front of the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv. AFP
A girl protests against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, in front of the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv. AFP
Young women protest in Tbilisi, Georgia with their hands painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Getty
Young women protest in Tbilisi, Georgia with their hands painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Getty
Supplies for Ukrainian refugees at one of three camps set up at the MoldExpo exhibition center, in Chisinau, Moldova. EPA
Supplies for Ukrainian refugees at one of three camps set up at the MoldExpo exhibition center, in Chisinau, Moldova. EPA
Police detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's incursion into Ukraine in St Petersburg. AP
Police detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's incursion into Ukraine in St Petersburg. AP
A man waits at a bus stop in St Petersburg, which has been with a painted in the colours of Ukraine's national flag. EPA
A man waits at a bus stop in St Petersburg, which has been with a painted in the colours of Ukraine's national flag. EPA
Russian ground forces approaching Nova Kakhovka, southern Ukraine. AP
Russian ground forces approaching Nova Kakhovka, southern Ukraine. AP
A woman holds her daughter's hand as they arrive by bus from the Polish-Ukrainian border. Getty
A woman holds her daughter's hand as they arrive by bus from the Polish-Ukrainian border. Getty
A man drives his car full of food supplies to deliver to the Ukrainian side of the border, where thousands wait to enter Poland. Getty
A man drives his car full of food supplies to deliver to the Ukrainian side of the border, where thousands wait to enter Poland. Getty
Refugees arrive with buses from the Medyka pedestrian border crossing, in Przemsyl, eastern Poland. AFP
Refugees arrive with buses from the Medyka pedestrian border crossing, in Przemsyl, eastern Poland. AFP
People gather to catch a train and leave Ukraine for neighboring countries at the railway station in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP
People gather to catch a train and leave Ukraine for neighboring countries at the railway station in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP
Cars form a line that stretches 35 kilometres from the Shehyni border crossing to Poland as people try to flee Russia's military operation against Ukraine. Reuters
Cars form a line that stretches 35 kilometres from the Shehyni border crossing to Poland as people try to flee Russia's military operation against Ukraine. Reuters
Helena, right, and her brother Bodia, left, from Lviv, wait at the Medyka border crossing in eastern Poland. AFP
Helena, right, and her brother Bodia, left, from Lviv, wait at the Medyka border crossing in eastern Poland. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kiev. AP
A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kiev. AP
People run for cover during the shelling on the city of Kiev. AP
People run for cover during the shelling on the city of Kiev. AP
A child refugee who fled the conflict in Ukraine covers her face in the event hall of a hotel offering shelter in Siret, Romania. AP
A child refugee who fled the conflict in Ukraine covers her face in the event hall of a hotel offering shelter in Siret, Romania. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding a briefing in Kyiv. He said that Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan have suggested talks with Russia, which 'can only be welcomed'. AFP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding a briefing in Kyiv. He said that Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan have suggested talks with Russia, which 'can only be welcomed'. AFP
Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, at a news conference in the embassy of Ukraine, Washington. AP
Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, at a news conference in the embassy of Ukraine, Washington. AP
Manchester City footballers wear t-shirts in support of Ukraine before a match. Reuters
Manchester City footballers wear t-shirts in support of Ukraine before a match. Reuters
Ukrainian refugees arrive in Warsaw by train from Kiev. EPA
Ukrainian refugees arrive in Warsaw by train from Kiev. EPA
A woman waves a Ukrainian flag during a rally in Times Square, New York City. AFP
A woman waves a Ukrainian flag during a rally in Times Square, New York City. AFP
A man sits next to his dogs in an underground car park turned into a bomb shelter during an air raid alert in Kiev. AP
A man sits next to his dogs in an underground car park turned into a bomb shelter during an air raid alert in Kiev. AP
A woman sleeps on chairs in a Kiev bomb shelter. AP
A woman sleeps on chairs in a Kiev bomb shelter. AP
A satellite image with overlaid graphics shows military vehicles alongside the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Reuters
A satellite image with overlaid graphics shows military vehicles alongside the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Reuters
A satellite image shows the effects of shelling in open fields along Soborna Street in the north-east suburbs of Kharkiv. Reuters
A satellite image shows the effects of shelling in open fields along Soborna Street in the north-east suburbs of Kharkiv. Reuters
A big fire at a petroleum storage depot after a Russian missile attack, in Vasylkiv, near Kiev. EPA
A big fire at a petroleum storage depot after a Russian missile attack, in Vasylkiv, near Kiev. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen take positions at a military airbase in the Kyiv region. Reuters
Ukrainian servicemen take positions at a military airbase in the Kyiv region. Reuters

“Given the exceptional nature of the current situation, we will be restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU at this time. We will continue to work closely with governments on this issue.”

YouTube announced on Tuesday morning that it would also block videos on the site, after previously restricting ads on the content. The ban is effective immediately but the company wrote that “it’ll take time for our systems to fully ramp up”.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began last Thursday, has prompted a growing number of governments to ask large technology companies to reduce or restrict their services in Russia. Poland and the Baltic states asked Big Tech companies on Sunday to “take a stand” against Russia.

Companies will soon be forced to take down the content, after Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, said the EU’s ban on the state-backed media will include broadcasting or platforms sharing RT and Sputnik content.

Microsoft also said it would take steps to reduce users’ exposure to Russian propaganda, including on MSN.com.

“We are removing RT news apps from our Windows app store and further de-ranking these sites’ search results on Bing so that it will only return RT and Sputnik links when a user clearly intends to navigate to those pages,” the company said in a statement. The company will also be banning ads from RT and Sputnik.

More from this package
TOURNAMENT INFO

2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier

Thursday results
UAE beat Kuwait by 86 runs
Qatar beat Bahrain by five wickets
Saudi Arabia beat Maldives by 35 runs

Friday fixtures
10am, third-place playoff – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait
3pm, final – UAE v Qatar

if you go

The flights

Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes. 

The hotels 

The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
School uniforms report
What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.

There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.

Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.

There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.

The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

 

Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Plastic tipping points
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

On Women's Day
Indika
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2011%20Bit%20Studios%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Odd%20Meter%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%205%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

While you're here
PRISCILLA
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Sofia%20Coppola%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Cailee%20Spaeny%2C%20Jacob%20Elordi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

The Beach Bum

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg

Two stars

The Little Things

Directed by: John Lee Hancock

Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto

Four stars

Tomorrow 2021
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Updated: March 01, 2022, 12:54 PM`
RussiaUkraineFacebookInstagram