Following Facebook, YouTube also bans Myanmar military channels

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] YouTube, the world's largest video sharing site, has removed five military-owned media channels from its platform in response to the Myanmar military junta, which seized power through a coup and has been intensifying violent repression against the people.

According to major foreign media on the 4th (local time), YouTube announced in a statement that it had removed five media channels owned by the military from its platform.

Earlier, Facebook, the world's largest social networking service (SNS), blocked Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to the military junta on the 25th of last month and also banned all advertisements.

At that time, Facebook stated, "A series of incidents, including deadly violence following the February 1 coup, triggered these bans," adding, "We believe the risk of allowing the Myanmar military junta to use Facebook and Instagram is too great."

Facebook also blocked accounts operated by Myanmar's state TV and propaganda media, citing incitement to violence.

Additionally, Facebook announced that advertisements related to the Myanmar military junta are prohibited on both Facebook and Instagram.

The Myanmar military seized power on the 1st of last month by staging a coup, claiming that despite serious fraud in the November general election last year, the civilian government failed to properly investigate it.

On the 3rd, military and police forces across Myanmar fired indiscriminately, resulting in at least 38 deaths in a single day, bringing the total death toll to at least 54 so far.