YouTube reinstated British broadcaster talkRADIO to its video-sharing platform after carrying out a review. Reuters.
YouTube reinstated British broadcaster talkRADIO to its video-sharing platform after carrying out a review. Reuters.
YouTube reinstated British broadcaster talkRADIO to its video-sharing platform after carrying out a review. Reuters.
YouTube reinstated British broadcaster talkRADIO to its video-sharing platform after carrying out a review. Reuters.

TalkRADIO reinstated to YouTube after it ‘challenged expert advice on Covid’


Neil Murphy
  • English
  • Arabic

British national radio station talkRADIO on Tuesday said it has been reinstated to YouTube after a temporary ban.

TalkRADIO, which has more than 400,000 weekly listeners, was removed from the video-hosting platform after sharing content that contradicted expert advice about the coronavirus pandemic.

The station said YouTube had not fully explained the decision behind its ban, which sparked a debate in the UK over big tech and free speech.

“TalkRADIO’s YouTube channel was briefly suspended, but upon further review has been reinstated,” YouTube said

“We quickly remove flagged content that violates our community guidelines, including Covid-19 content that explicitly contradicts expert consensus from local authorities or the World Health Organisation.”

News Corp-owned talkRADIO is one of Britain’s main news and speech radio stations and hosts government ministers regularly.

The station broadcasts via digital radio as well as online and uses YouTube to host a video feed of live broadcasts and an archive of past shows.

Some of its presenters have described government measures to slow the spread of coronavirus as excessive or ill-judged.

Senior minister Michael Gove, speaking to talkRADIO on Tuesday, said the broadcaster should be free to question policy over the pandemic without interference from large technology companies. “I don’t believe in censorship,” Mr Gove said. “I think it’s absolutely right that people should ask questions.”

TalkRADIO is regulated by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom and is required to ensure that news is reported accurately and impartially.

In February, Ofcom fined talkRADIO £75,000 ($102,468), relating to broadcasts in 2018 by former MP George Galloway, which it ruled lacked impartiality. TalkRADIO sacked Mr Galloway in 2019 over a separate incident.

The station said on Tuesday that it had robust editorial controls and took care to balance debate. “We regularly interrogate government data and we have controls in place, use verifiable sources and give space to a careful selection of voices and opinions,” it said.

The line up

Friday: Giggs, Sho Madjozi and Masego  

Saturday: Nas, Lion Bbae, Roxanne Shante and DaniLeigh  

Sole DXB runs from December 6 to 8 at Dubai Design District. Weekend pass is Dh295 while a one day pass is Dh195. Tickets are available from www.soledxb.com

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The advice provided in our columns does not constitute legal advice and is provided for information only. Readers are encouraged to seek independent legal advice. 

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Saturday  (UAE kick-off times)

Leganes v Getafe (12am)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Levante v Alaves (4pm)

Real Madrid v Sevilla (7pm)

Osasuna v Valladolid (9.30pm)

Sunday

Eibar v Atletico Madrid (12am)

Mallorca v Valencia (3pm)

Real Betis v Real Sociedad (5pm)

Villarreal v Espanyol (7pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)

Monday

Barcelona v Granada (12am)

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Company name: Play:Date

Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

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