Doha — Al Jazeera has strongly condemned YouTube for complying with an Israeli decision to block the network’s livestreams and online access inside Israel.
The Qatar-based news channel said the move violates basic press freedoms and international standards.
In a statement released on Thursday, Al Jazeera said YouTube’s decision to remove its channels followed an Israeli order to ban the broadcaster’s digital content for 90 days.
The network argued that global technology companies should protect freedom of expression and resist government pressure that “silences independent journalism.”
In a statement, the network said, “Such principles mandate that global tech companies ensure freedom of expression and resist government pressures that lead to the withholding of the truth and the silencing of independent journalism.”
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Al Jazeera described the blocking of its channels and websites as part of a broader pattern of efforts to restrict media coverage, including attacks on journalists and closures of its offices.
The network urged YouTube and other digital platforms to reverse the ban and called on international media freedom and human rights groups to take action.
YouTube has not publicly responded to the criticism.