YouTube has imposed a 90-day restriction on the official YouTube channel of Journo Mirror, following the publication of a media byte featuring senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, the online media outlet said in a statement on Monday.
According to a statement issued by Journo Mirror, the video in question included Bhushan’s remarks concerning the treatment of Rohingya refugees, particularly his criticism of suggestions to “throw them into the sea.” YouTube flagged the video as a violation of its community guidelines and subsequently barred the channel from uploading new content for 90 days.
Journo Mirror, however, has strongly denied any breach of the platform’s policies, stating that the content of the video neither promoted hate speech nor incited violence. “There was nothing in the video that violates YouTube’s community standards. Despite this, punitive action was taken against us,” the statement read.
The outlet also pointed out that the same video byte has been posted by several other media channels, many using similar thumbnails, yet only Journo Mirror was penalised. When asked why action was taken solely against them, YouTube reportedly responded, “We can only speak about your channel, not others.”
“This raises a serious question: Are YouTube’s community guidelines different for Journo Mirror than for others? Or is Journo Mirror being selectively targeted?” the statement asked.
Journo Mirror emphasised that it is not seeking leniency based on others posting similar content, but rather questioning why a verified piece of news, already in the public domain, has led to a disproportionate penalty against them.
“This is a direct assault on press freedom. We strongly condemn YouTube’s arbitrary action,” the organisation said, adding that it is exploring all available avenues to challenge the platform’s decision.
Labelling the incident as a time of “crisis,” Journo Mirror has called upon the public and fellow journalists to stand in solidarity. “We will not step back from delivering true and factual journalism, no matter the challenges,” the statement concluded.
