YouTube deletes RT’s German YouTube channels after Covid-19 misinformation strike

Video-sharing platform YouTube deleted Russian state-backed broadcaster RT’s German-language channels on Tuesday, saying it had violated its Covid-19 misinformation policy.

“YouTube has always had clear community guidelines that outline what is allowed on the platform,” a YouTube spokesperson told DW.

Initially RT’s German channel was issued a strike for uploading content that breached YouTube’s Covid-19 misinformation policy, resulting in a week-long posting ban.

RT then used a second channel, “Der Fehlende Part,” — which translates to “the missing part” in German — to evade the suspension.

RT DE [the name for RT in Germany] “tried to circumvent the enforcement by using another channel, and as a result both channels were terminated for breaking YouTube Terms of Service,” the spokesperson said.