YouTube cans Syrian government channels after TomoNews report

DAMASCUS, SYRIA / SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA — Syrian government-linked YouTube channels been removed following a TomoNews report about ads displaying on them.<br /><br />Yesterday a TomoNews investigation showed how Syrian government-linked YouTube channels were displaying advertisements from massive brands.<br /><br />Those channels were YouTube / PresidencySy and ORTAS Videos, a channel for the General Organisation of Radio and TV for Syria. Syrian government websites linked to both.<br /><br />U.S. sanctions prohibit American companies from providing services to Syria without obtaining a license from the Treasury Department. ORTAS is specifically listed on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.<br /><br />Not long after TomoNews contacted YouTube and the U.S. government for comment, <br />and shortly after we published our video, those channels appeared with the text: "This account has been terminated due to a legal complaint." For the record, TomoNews did not file a legal complaint. We just reported on the story.<br /><br />Another ORTAS-linked YouTube channel that was linking to live streaming channels has also been removed, with YouTube citing community guideline violations.