Editors Guild condemns YouTube’s takedown of Ruben Banerjee’s channel

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) strongly condemned the sudden removal of senior journalist Ruben Banerjee’s YouTube channel, Mu Ruben Kahuchhi (I am Ruben speaking), stating that it raises “serious questions of freedom of expression, platform power, and the lack of clarity in digital governance”.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Guild said Banerjee’s channel was taken down without any prior warning, strike, or show-cause notice. 

Banerjee, who also serves as general secretary of the Guild, launched the Odia-language public journalism platform in September 2024 to cover schoolteachers’ issues, women’s self-help groups, and Odisha’s state politics. Since its launch, the channel has gained over 33,000 organic subscribers.

“YouTube hasn’t communicated the exact nature of the breach,” Banerjee told Newslaundry.

According to the Guild, Banerjee received an electronic communication from YouTube late on August 4 citing a violation of its “Circumvention Policy,” but the company did not specify the exact nature of the alleged breach. His subsequent appeals, including one filed through legal counsel, were rejected without explanation. “The lack of disclosure denied him the opportunity to be heard, amounting to a denial of natural justice,” the Guild said.

The Guild also drew attention to similar cases, including the removal of investigative journalist Poonam Agarwal’s channel and the blocking of the 4PM News Network, which was later reinstated only after a Supreme Court intervention. “Such arbitrary actions highlight the dangers of opaque enforcement mechanisms that undermine press freedom,” the statement read.

EGI President Anant Nath urged YouTube to immediately reinstate Banerjee’s channel and provide a clear explanation for its removal. The Guild stressed that digital platforms must operate with “transparency, fairness, and accountability,” and that any punitive action against journalistic content should involve prior notice, disclosure of reasons, and a fair opportunity to respond.

“Freedom of expression online is as vital as it is offline. For democracy to thrive, platforms like YouTube must ensure that responsible journalism is protected, not punished,” Nath said.

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