Russia threatens to block YouTube after German channels are deleted over coronavirus misinformation

YouTube told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle that it does not allow content on its platform that contradicts health authorities' medical information about covid-19. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg News)

Russia has threatened to block YouTube unless the Google-owned video service restores two German-language channels managed by Russia’s state media company RT that were deleted after they published what YouTube called “misinformation” about covid-19 and coronavirus vaccines.

Russia’s communications ministry, Roskomnadzor, said it had sent a letter to Google “demanding that all restrictions on YouTube channels RT DE and Der Fehlende Part, operated by the Russian media outlet Russia Today, be lifted as soon as possible,” the Interfax news agency reported. The ministry threatened to fully or partially restrict YouTube in Russia, or fine Google, if the channels were not restored.