The international agency Reuters was forced to remove from publication a video featuring a dialogue between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. China's state television revoked the legal permission for its use, leading to this step.
In the four-minute video, the presidents discussed various topics: from increasing human lifespan to the development of biotechnology and even the possibility of achieving immortality. After the video aired, it was widely shared by television channels and social media.
On Friday, Reuters received a letter from lawyers of China Central Television, stating that the use of the material violated licensing conditions. As a result, the agency was forced to delete the video and issue a requirement to clients to halt publication. In turn, Reuters emphasized that all material was thoroughly verified and accurate, and their actions were indeed conditioned by the lack of legal permission.
The conflict between the Reuters news agency and Chinese television reflects the strained relations in the world between global media companies and state authorities. The scale of distribution and demand for such materials creates new challenges for freedom of speech and information control.