Reposting RT Videos Now a Crime Across EU, Court Rules

EU Court of Justice just handed down a ruling that makes reposting RT videos a criminal offense across the bloc. Three German citizens now face criminal proceedings for putting RT videos on a free public website, and the court made clear that no profit motive or commercial activity is required.

No Economic Activity Required — Just Reposting

The CJEU judgment explicitly states the EU sanctions ban on RT broadcasts "applies also to a website accessible to the public free of charge." That kills the old argument that only commercial rebroadcasters were covered. The court ruled it "is irrelevant whether or not the broadcasting of the prohibited content takes place in the course of an economic activity." Penalties also depend "neither on the extent nor on the duration of the broadcasting." One video, one time, on a free site — you're liable.

The German Case That Forced the Issue

Three unnamed individuals in Germany are staring down criminal prosecution for repeatedly sharing RT Germany videos on an open-access website. The case reached the CJEU because German courts needed clarity on whether the EU's 2022 sanctions against RT (adopted after Russia's invasion of Ukraine) applied to individuals reposting, not just broadcasters. The answer: yes, and with no escape hatches.

What This Means for Content Distribution

If you run a website, a Telegram channel, or even a public Discord server that republishes RT content, you're now a target for prosecution in any EU member state. The ruling doesn't require the content to be monetized or commercially motivated. It sets a template for applying the same logic to other sanctioned media outlets — think Sputnik or any entity blacklisted under future EU restrictive measures.

Platform operators should review their moderation policies immediately. A user-generated content defense likely won't hold if you're actively distributing banned material. This is the most aggressive expansion of EU sanctions enforcement into individual online behavior to date. Expect member state prosecutors to test the full scope of this ruling within months.

Source: EU Court of Justice allows criminal prosecution for reposting RT videos
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