logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
36m 37s

Why hasn’t Russia banned YouTube?

BBC News
About this episode

YouTube, which is owned by Google, is one of the rare Western social media platforms that is not banned by Russia. Neal Mohan, YouTube’s Chief Product Officer, discusses the fine line between disinformation and censorship – and explains why banning fake news channels isn’t always the best way forward.

Lucy and Vitaly are joined by the BBC's disinformation reporter Marianna Spring. Together, they speak to Sergei Buntman, from the independent Russian radio station, Ekho Moskvy. The station was taken off air on 1st March. It now operates on YouTube.

And they hear from journalist Konstantin Ryzhenko, who decided to stay in Kherson under Russian occupation, but is now a wanted man by the Russians and has to remain in hiding.

The series producer is Estelle Doyle. The producers are Arsenii Sokolov and Ivana Davidovic. Planning producer is Louise Hidalgo. The technical producer is Emma Crowe. The editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Email Ukrainecast@bbc.co.uk with your questions and comments. You can also send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram to +44 330 1239480.

Up next
Jul 8
Surviving Russia’s record drone attacks
On Friday, Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched a record 539 drones and 11 missiles in overnight airstrikes. Kyiv was at the epicentre of the attack, with every district in the capital targeted. We’ve been speaking with two residents of the city, about their experiences - ... Show More
20m 43s
Jul 3
Q&A: Suspended US weapons, Macron-Putin call and Russian opposition
After the US paused the delivery of some weapons to Ukraine pledged under the Biden administration, how soon will the impact be felt on the front line? As Russia claims full control of Luhansk, what is life like for Ukrainians living in occupied territories? And is Ukraine united ... Show More
24m 39s
Jul 1
The Ukrainian reporter who captivated Trump
Last week, a clip of BBC Ukrainian reporter Myroslava Petsa went viral, after President Trump asked a series of questions about her personal story during a press conference at the Nato summit. Myroslava tells us what was going through her mind at that moment, and what it has been ... Show More
26m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
Russian elections through the eyes of the Putin-controlled media
More than 100 million Russians are expected to vote for the next president over the coming days. Officially, there are four candidates on the ballot, but if you were watching Russian TV, you're likely only going to hear one name...Vladimir Putin. We're taking a moment to tune in ... Show More
27m 46s
Feb 2023
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – one year later; Moldova in Russia's crosshairs; the earthquake in Syria – a disaster on top of a disaster
Guest anchor Bianna Golodryga speaks with Tikhon Dzyadko and Ekaterina Kotrikadze of TV Rain, the exiled Russian TV network, about how Russians are reacting to Putin's war. Then CNA Russia Studies Program Director Michael Kofman and War on the Rocks founder Ryan Evans discuss the ... Show More
41m 12s
Feb 2024
Живой Гвоздь: ФСИН сообщила о смерти Алексея Навального. Эфир Живого гвоздя / 16.02.24 (2024-16-02)
Поддержать Живой гвоздь: с карт российских банков https://pay.cloudtips.ru/p/7edd7c0e с карт иностранных банков https://www.donationalerts.com/r/zhivgvozd Boosty: https://boosty.to/zhivoygvozd Криптокошелёк: bc1qmdt96xvsun9a8qxvgakfx9gqy4x72penx5rm2p Trust Wallet: https://link.tr ... Show More
4h 15m
Mar 2022
Russia seizes Ukraine nuclear plant
Russian military shelling started a fire at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine overnight. That’s according to Ukrainian officials. The fire is out and the nuclear plant appears safe, but Russian forces are now in control of the facility. In an emotional earl ... Show More
10m 51s
Mar 2024
Ep. 208: Dodging censorship in Russia
On today’s episode, we discuss Alexei Navalny’s death, Vladimir Putin, censorship in Russia, and Samizdat Online, an anti-censorship platform that grants users living under authoritarian regimes access to news and other censored content. Yevgeny “Genia” Simkin is the co-founder o ... Show More
1 h
Mar 2022
Tracking Russian disinformation and propaganda sites
NewsGuard – tracking Russian disinformation and propaganda sites False claims and misinformation about Ukraine and its allies have been rife online for months. Now a new tracking centre, which monitors Russian-Ukraine disinformation, has been set up and has published its first re ... Show More
38m 55s
Aug 2020
#210 - Nina Jankowicz - Russian Election Meddling & Fake News
Nina Jankowicz is a writer and an analyst for Central and Eastern Europe.Expect to learn whether Russia are meddling in our elections, why Moscow cares, how the predecessor to BLM was controlled by a Russian agency, how Russia recruits local citizens to be vehicles for misinforma ... Show More
55m 16s
Mar 2023
Tikhon Dzyadko: Is there an audience for independent news in Russia?
Stephen Sackur speaks to Tikhon Dzyadko, editor-in-chief of Russia’s independent TV news channel Dozhd (or TV Rain). Closed down in Moscow, now they are broadcasting online from Latvia, using YouTube to reach Russians. Is there a Russian audience for this alternative to Putin’s p ... Show More
24 m