YouTube removes Myanmar military channels as violence intensifies

Protests have turned deadly since the military seized power on Feb. 1.

"We have terminated a number of channels and removed several videos from YouTube in accordance with our community guidelines and applicable laws," a YouTube spokesperson told ABC News Friday.

The spokesperson for YouTube, which is owned by Google's Alphabet Inc., did not specify how many videos or channels were removed related to the violence in Myanmar.

The move comes on the heels of Facebook announcing last week that it was banning Myanmar military and military-controlled state and media entities, as well as ads from military-linked commercial entities on Facebook and Instagram.

"We’re continuing to treat the situation in Myanmar as an emergency and we remain focused on the safety of our community, and the people of Myanmar more broadly," Rafael Frankel, Facebook's director of policy for APAC Emerging Countries, said in a company blog post.

"Events since the Feb. 1 coup, including deadly violence, have precipitated a need for this ban," Frankel added. "We believe the risks of allowing the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] on Facebook and Instagram are too great."

At least 38 protesters were killed by authorities in Myanmar on Wednesday, marking the bloodiest day since the military seized power, according to United Nations special envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener.

Peaceful demonstrations have been taking place in cities across the Southeast Asian nation since its de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party were detained by the military on Feb. 1.

The protest movement has been growing and the military junta, which calls itself the State Administration Council, has become increasingly violent in its response as weeks of internet shutdowns, threats and mass arrests have not stopped thousands of people from voicing their opposition.

ABC News' Morgan Winsor and Karson Yiu contributed to this report.