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YouTube confirmed its termination of five right-wing political channels believed to be connected to the Department of Justice’s Russia-linked US media indictments this week. The platform pulled the channel of Tenet Media, which CNN reported to be the unnamed company implicated in the indictment. The DOJ accused Russian operatives of paying the media organization to spread disinformation designed to influence the 2024 US elections.

A YouTube spokesperson confirmed the takedown and provided a statement to Engadget. “Following an indictment from the US Department of Justice and after careful review, we are terminating the Tenet Media channel and four channels operated by its owner Lauren Chen as part of our ongoing efforts to combat coordinated influence operations,” the company statement reads.

According to YouTube, the investigation into the situation is ongoing, and the company will evaluate whether further actions are warranted as new information emerges. The company says it terminated over 4,000 YouTube channels in Q2 2024 as part of investigations into Russia-linked influence operations. YouTube works with Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) to identify bad actors and deplatform their channels and accounts accordingly.

On Wednesday, the DOJ indicted two employees of RT (formerly Russia Today), a Kremlin-backed media outlet. They were accused of illegally funding a Tennessee-backed media organization, now all but officially confirmed as Tenet Media. DOJ prosecutors allege in the indictment that the media company’s founders knew their funding came from the Russian government. Tenet Media is owned by Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan.

The Washington Post reports that YouTube was Tenet’s preferred platform for spreading propaganda videos aimed at US conservatives and featuring popular right-wing pundits. Those working with the organization included Benny Johnson, Tim Pool and Dave Rubin. The channels have even featured appearances from former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and RNC Chair Lara Trump. Pool and Rubin have reportedly denied knowledge that the Russian government was behind Tenet’s funding.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/youtube-terminates-five-right-wing-channels-linked-to-the-dojs-russia-indictments-175432238.html?src=rss 

It’s a bit of a slow week for tech deals, if we’re honest, as many of the better offers we’re seeing this Friday are leftovers from last week’s Labor Day sales. Still, there are a few discounts worth checking out: A four-pack of Apple’s diminutive AirTag trackers are $24 off Apple’s list price, for instance, while Keychron’s C3 Pro, our favorite mechanical keyboard for those on a budget, is still at an all-time low of $25. Other picks from our guides to the best microSD cards and affordable wireless earbuds are on sale as well, as is Sonos’ bag-friendly Roam 2 speaker and Elgato’s new Stream Deck Neo control panel. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still buy today. 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-apples-airtags-falls-back-to-75-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-160757509.html?src=rss 

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is cheaper than we’ve ever seen it before, dropping well below the Prime Day price. The company’s premium smartwatch is available via Amazon for $689, which is a savings of $110.

This is Apple’s latest and greatest (for now) ultra-premium smartwatch. It boasts the company’s Double Tap feature, which lets users pinch quickly in mid-air to bring up the home screen and make adjustments.

The high-end watch is geared toward serious athletes and others with specialized fitness-tracking needs, so the sensors are on point and the exterior is incredibly durable. It still features the same 49-millimeter form factor as the original, so it’s not too chonky. The screen is much brighter than the OG Ultra, up to 3,000 nits. This should make it easier to read in low light conditions, which is another boon for extreme athletes who do early morning training sessions. 

As for power, the smartwatch includes Apple’s new S9 chip, which allows for the aforementioned Double Tap gestural controls and upgraded Siri functionality. The battery can last up to 72 hours on a single charge, so long as it’s in low power mode. Otherwise, it’ll brick out after around 36 hours.

This is a whole lot of smartwatch. Not only is it double the price of the Apple Watch 9, but it’s chock full of features that most people don’t need. This is a machine for serious fitness enthusiasts or those who go off the grid for long periods of time. With that being said, today’s sale makes this thing pretty darn attractive for the rest of us.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-apple-watch-ultra-2-drops-below-its-prime-day-price-163255875.html?src=rss