TalkRadio gagged over ‘attack on lockdown’

TALKRADIO’S YouTube channel was suspended yesterday amid claims it broke rules with its coverage of Covid-19.

The channel disappeared from the platform during the early hours of Tuesday, with a message saying it had been ‘terminated’. YouTube restored the channel last night following a backlash over claims of censorship.

It is understood the tech giant took the action over the station’s handling of news about the pandemic.

TalkRadio has aired views criticising the UK’s lockdown policies along with other aspects of the way those in power have approached the crisis. It has also covered alternative views of the vaccination strategy.

But last night, following a reaction which saw the YouTube move branded ‘chilling’ and amid concerns it represented an attack on free speech, the online company ‘reinstated’ the station’s official channel.

A YouTube spokesman said the channel had been ‘briefly suspended’ but that on ‘further review’ had been put back up. The company added

‘It’s called free speech’

that it had ‘ quickly remove flagged content’ that ‘violate our community guidelines’. It said this included ‘Covid-19 content’ that ‘explicitly contradict expert consensus’.

But it then claimed it made exceptions ‘for material posted with an educational, documentary, scientific or artistic purpose’.

Critics branded the move an attack on free speech, while MP Julian Knight said it was ‘baffling’ and ‘concerning’ if the channel had been pulled over its Covid-19 coverage.

TalkRadio said it was ‘urgently’ waiting for a proper response from Google – owners of YouTube – ‘about the nature of the breach’ that led to the channel’s removal. It added: ‘This sets a dangerous precedent and is censorship of free speech and legitimate national debate.’

Station presenter Julia HartleyBrewer said: ‘We simply challenge the evidence that lockdowns are a proportionate response to the Covid virus. It’s called free speech’.