YouTube removes channels run by Myanmar's military
As violence escalates in Myanmar, YouTube has taken down channels from broadcasters connected by Myanmar's military.
American social media giant said that removing the channels is due to breaching its community guidelines, but it didn't clarify the pronouncement any further.
Among the removed channels were Myanmar Radio and Television and Myawaddy Media, which air news, sports, and Tatmadaw propaganda.
YouTube told CNN, "We have terminated a number of channels and removed several videos from YouTube in accordance with our community guidelines and applicable laws."
YouTube is owned by Google (GOOGL).
Meanwhile, TikTok also announced on Friday that it was working to remove some content in Myanmar.
"The promotion of hate and violence has no place on our platform," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement on Friday without expounding further.
"We are aggressively removing content in Myanmar that violates our principles, and continue to monitor the situation," TikTok added.
Facebook and Instagram banned the military from those platforms last week, along with ads by Tatmadaw-owned businesses.
Reports said that Facebook blocked Mywaddy on February 2, the day after the coup.
CNN's latest report said that according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, at least 54 people had been killed by police and military officers in Myanmar since February 1, including at least 30 on Wednesday. The actual death toll, however, could be much higher, she warned.
Myanmar's post-coup politics and protesters have also played out digitally. Protesters utilize social media sites to rally out demonstrations by denouncing the generals' power grab, spreading memes, and sharing police and military violence acts.
Reports said that the military force also controlled telecom data centers and blocked social media sites. Frequently, the military has cut off internet access entirely. When the internet connection is back, Myanmar citizens have to use software specializing in getting around the blocks and logging onto sites, including Facebook.
