YouTube shuts down four right-wing influencer channels that were allegedly funded by Russia

YouTube has shut down four channels of right-wing influencers, including 'Tenet Media,' in connection with Russia's disinformation campaign in the U.S. The investigation into Russian state-run media employees indicted by the Department of Justice revealed funding for a company believed to have produced content for Tenet Media.

Office of Public Affairs | Two RT Employees Indicted for Covertly Funding and Directing US Company that Published Thousands of Videos in Furtherance of Russian Interests | United States Department of Justice

YouTube takes down Tenet Media, Lauren Chen channels after DOJ indictments - The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/05/youtube-takes-down-tenet-lauren-chen-tenet-russia-doj/

YouTube deletes Tenet Media's channel following US indictment over Russian disinformation - SiliconANGLE
https://siliconangle.com/2024/09/06/youtube-deletes-tenet-medias-channel-following-us-indictment-russian-disinformation/

Stop letting right wing influencers cosplay as 'independent' media
https://taylorlorenz.substack.com/p/we-need-to-know-who-is-funding-the

According to reports, content production companies such as Tenet Media received $9.7 million (approximately 1.386 billion yen) from Russia and released a large amount of pro-Russian content on YouTube that promoted the positive aspects of Russian policies. According to the Department of Justice's investigation, more than 2,000 videos were released, and the cumulative number of views reached more than 16 million.

Taylor Hansen, who has worked as part of Tenet Media, has announced that he will be closing Tenet Media due to the Department of Justice lawsuit, and that he will be seeking other employment so that he can continue to report important news during the election period.

Announcement:

TENET Media has ended after the DOJ indictment and I will now be pursuing other job opportunities so I may continue to report on vital news stories this election season.

If you'd like to independently fund my work or think I'd fit in well at another source let…

— Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) September 6, 2024

Tenet Media's Tim Pool, a right-wing influencer, was paid $100,000 a month, while Benny Johnson was paid $400,000 a month in addition to a $100,000 contract in exchange for publishing four pro-Russia videos a month.

The information comes as the Department of Justice indicts two employees of the Russian state-run media outlet RT on charges of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with Russia's disinformation campaign. Both defendants remain at large and have not been apprehended.