UK Broadcasting Regulator Could Move To BAN RT News After Russia’s Ukraine Invasion

RT News, otherwise known as Russia Today, is facing an outright ban from broadcasting in Britain and potentially the rest of the world following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Censorship of RT has long been in the works and was being discussed prior to the escalation of tensions, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries asking British regulator Ofcom to consider banning RT outright.

Dorries charged that “RT is demonstrably part of Russia’s global disinformation campaign, as its own editor-in-chief has made clear in the past, who has called the network an ‘information weapon’ of the Russian state.”

Ofcom responded by stating “We are expediting complaints in this area as a matter of urgency and we will not hesitate to take swift action where necessary.”

The statement further noted “It is acceptable for broadcasters to present issues from a particular perspective provided that alternative views and opinions are also represented,” adding “It would not be acceptable for any of our licensees to broadcast one-sided propaganda.”

RT’s deputy editor-in-chief and head of communications, Anna Belkina responded to attempts to shut down RT, saying “Even in the face of undue political pressure, [Ofcom] has continuously found RT to be in line with other UK broadcasters, without a single breach of broadcasting code to be found in the last four years – not something that can be said about many other channels in the country.”