Feb 27, 2022: According to a report by AFP, YouTube has announced it would block certain Russian channels from monetizing their videos, among other restrictions, due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“In light of extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine, we’re taking a number of actions,” a spokesperson for Google said in a statement Saturday.

“Our teams have started to pause the ability for certain channels to monetize on YouTube, including RT’s YouTube channels globally,” the spokesperson said, referring to the Russian state-funded news outlet.

“As always, our teams are continuing to monitor closely for new developments, including evaluating what any new sanctions and export controls may mean for YouTube,” the platform’s spokesperson added.

In addition to limiting monetization, YouTube added that it would limit recommendations to the same channels and “actively bring authentic news content to the forefront” of search results related to Russia and Ukraine. The company said videos from RT and several other channels would also be “limited” via YouTube. In early February, Germany banned the RT, forcing Russia to close the Moscow bureau of the German media outlet Deutsche Welle.

The RT, created in 2005 under the name “Russia Today”, has been accused by Western authorities of spreading false information.

YouTube noted that in the past few days it has removed hundreds of channels, some of them for “coordinated deceptive practices”, which the company uses for misinformation.

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