Written questions, answers and statements

Counter Disinformation Unit: Russia

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Question for Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

UIN 151119, tabled on 31 March 2022

Question

Lucy Powell
Labour
Manchester Central
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Counter Disinformation Unit has contacted YouTube to request the removal of videos doctored by the Russian state following the tweet by the Ministry of Defence on 23 March 2022 of their letter that organisation dated 22 March 2022.

Answer

Chris Philp
Conservative
Croydon South
Commons

Answered on

19 April 2022

YouTube and other major tech companies have policies relating to disinformation, content manipulation, and other relevant harms to their users. HMG is clear that these calls and videos were part of Russian information and influence operation designed to achieve strategic effect to the advantage of the Russian state, by attempting to embarrass HMG, weaken its relationship with its allies, and undermine its support for Ukraine. Following DCMS engagement, YouTube removed the videos from their platform on 25 March 2022 in line with their Terms of Service.

Answered by

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
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