Citing violations of its hate speech regulations, YouTube has closed down the official channel of the megachurch headed by the discredited Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua. This comes after a recent investigation by openDemocracy and the BBC that uncovered substantial proof of the late preacher's systematic sexual abuse and torture.
Playing a pivotal role in his journey from a local pastor to a global sensation, Emmanuel TV was a significant platform for the late TB Joshua. Despite his passing in 2021, the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) is currently overseen by his wife, Evelyn Joshua.
While the church has refrained from commenting on the channel's removal, it has previously dismissed allegations of misconduct as "unfounded." With over half a million followers on YouTube and accumulating hundreds of millions of views, Emmanuel TV held a substantial online presence.
Experiencing its second suspension in three years, the YouTube channel associated with the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) has faced repercussions for past violations of the platform's community guidelines. In collaboration with the BBC, openDemocracy scrutinized Emmanuel TV's online content, identifying a minimum of 50 videos deemed "abusive" on YouTube.
Upon reporting these findings to YouTube, the account was suspended on January 29 as part of the ongoing investigation.
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Responding to the BBC, the video-sharing platform owned by Google stated that Emmanuel TV had been "terminated for violating... hate speech policies."
TB Joshua gained fame for his "healing" ministries, capturing hundreds of services on film that purported to show him healing the physically disabled and chronically ill. However, several former church members have since discredited these claims.
Emmanuel TV images of mentally ill persons being held in chains, instances of medical disinformation, and instances of smear efforts against women who came forward about TB Joshua's sexual abuse were among the items that openDemocracy exposed.
The popular satellite services DStv and GOTv are operated by MultiChoice, a South African corporation that discontinued Emmanuel TV's satellite channel on January 17.
With millions of viewers worldwide, the channel was for a long time one of the most prosperous Christian networks in the world.
After the BBC's investigation into TB Joshua was published, some contributors received online trolling from accounts connected to churches and Emmanuel TV. OpenDemocracy also reported these accounts to YouTube, but they haven't been taken down.
Due to their policies about online safety, YouTube and other social media companies have come under heavy criticism in recent years.
