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YouTube axes CE candidate John Lee's campaign channel, Meta restricts paid service

YouTube axes CE candidate John Lee's campaign channel, Meta restricts paid service

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Google's video platform YouTube has cancelled chief executive candidate John Lee's campaign channel, citing compliance with the US sanctions against the former chief secretary.  Google's decision came after Lee's meeting with Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on YouTube and Facebook on Tuesday. Moreover, Lee was planning to broadcast the meeting with the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication sector, according to The Standard

At the time of writing, the channel cannot be found on YouTube. A Google spokesperson said in a statement, “Google complies with applicable US sanctions laws and enforces related policies under its Terms of Service. After review and consistent with these policies, we terminated the Johnlee2022 YouTube channel”. The company did not tell the detail out the reasons for terminating the channel. 

According to Google's legal requirement, advertisers must comply with applicable sanctions and export regulations, which include sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US government, and agree to not cause Google to violate these regulations. Users cannot use ads for or on behalf of restricted entities or individuals, and they cannot use ads for or on behalf of entities or individuals located in sanctioned countries or regions too. 

Additionally, Google said ad campaigns run by or on behalf of entities or individuals restricted under applicable trade sanctions and regulations are not allowed.  Currently, YouTube is one of the top destinations to watch video content for many Hongkongers. A report by Google said that in February 2021, more than 5.5 million adults in Hong Kong watched videos on YouTube.

Lee also uses Facebook and Instagram for his chief executive election campaign. In a statement, a spokesperson of Meta said, “Lee can maintain a demonetised presences on Facebook and Instagram, and we have taken steps to prevent the use of payments services. As a US company, we operate under the constraints of US laws, which vary by circumstance. If we identify accounts maintained by or on behalf of people on the US Government’s list of Specially Designated Nationals, we have a legal obligation to take certain action.”

Lee was sanctioned by the US government in 2020 for his involvement in the implementation of the national security law, which prohibits acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. On his Facebook page, Lee said, "The so-called sanctions imposed by the US are bullying. Their unreasonable behaviours only make me more convinced and steadfast that what I am doing is right. I will ignore it and scoff at it."

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