“It would be a big mistake to succumb to provocation.” Dmitry Zhuk on whether to block YouTube in Belarus

Should YouTube be shut down in Belarus in response to the blocking of Belarusian media channels? The opinion on this matter was shared by the Minister of Information Dmitry Zhuk on the air of the program “Club of Editors” on the TV channel “Belarus 1”, writes sb.by.

Dmitry Zhuk noted that in any issue there are always several aspects:

The first aspect we need to understand is that we are being provoked to take certain steps. And it would be the biggest mistake to succumb to provocation and take the steps that are being provoked. Two. Of course, the platform is unfriendly. What they do is not subject to any legal or other discussion. Pure piracy.

The Belarusian media have learned to work even in such conditions.

- We keep the audience. But the most important thing is that we must make a decision that will be beneficial to our state at a time when it will be necessary for our society, and not when we are very strongly pushed to do so. And the fact that we will control the information environment on the territory of our country as a sovereign state does not raise any doubts for me as a minister, because all the tools are available, Zhuk added.

As for bans and deletions, the guest of the program gave a fact for reflection:

YouTube demolished Mr. Trump’s channel, even a lawyer sued a lot of money for it. Has Trump shut down YouTube in America? Nope.