Beetle: Shutting down YouTube in response to blocking means succumbing to provocation
He stressed that the platform behaves unfriendly, and its actions do not withstand any criticism.
Information Minister Dmitry Zhuk in the program “Editors Club” on the TV channel “Belarus 1” expressed his opinion on whether Belarus should close YouTube in response to the blocking of channels of Belarusian media. His words are quoted by Belt.
According to the Minister, there are several aspects in this matter.
“The first thing we need to understand is that we are being provoked to take certain steps. And it will be the biggest mistake to succumb to provocation and take those steps that provoke us, said Zhuk.
He stressed that the platform behaves unfriendly, and its actions do not withstand any criticism.
"Second. Of course, the platform is unfriendly. What they are doing there is not subject to any discussion from the point of view of legal and other aspects. Pure piracy, the report said.
At the same time, the Belarusian media have already adapted to the new conditions and retain the audience. The main thing, in his opinion, is to make decisions based on the interests of the state, not under external pressure.
“We keep the audience. But more important than 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, I have no doubts as a minister, because all the tools are available.
As an example, Beetle cited the situation with Donald Trump: “YouTube demolished Mr. Trump’s channel, even the lawyer sued a lot of money for it.” Has Trump shut down YouTube in America? Nope.
