Putin to Address YouTube Disruptions in Russia, Kremlin Confirms

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking into the recent disruptions and slow speeds on YouTube in Russia after a senior cinema industry leader brought the issue to his attention, the Kremlin announced on Friday.

Some critics claim that Russian authorities are intentionally causing problems on YouTube to limit access to content critical of Putin and his administration. However, the government denies this, attributing the disruptions to Google’s failure to update necessary equipment. This explanation has been challenged by both the company and technical experts.

Over the past few months, Russian internet monitoring services have observed widespread outages on YouTube, owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Despite these reports, the country's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, stated on Friday that it had not detected any significant changes in the quality of YouTube’s service.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov linked the technical issues to Google's alleged non-compliance with Russian regulations, suggesting that specific technical concerns should be addressed by Roskomnadzor. Research from Mediascope indicates that more than 50 million Russians use YouTube daily, making it a key platform for independent media and the exiled opposition.

Peskov downplayed the importance of YouTube speeds for the general public in Russia. Nonetheless, Karen Shakhnazarov, head of the state-owned film studio Mosfilm for over 25 years, mentioned during a Thursday television appearance that he had discussed the matter with Putin. Shakhnazarov commented, "Slowing down YouTube, in my view, is not very advisable today," adding that Putin had acknowledged the presence of problematic content on the platform.

Google, along with other international tech companies and social media platforms, has faced ongoing scrutiny in Russia, particularly for not removing material deemed illegal by Moscow, such as content labeled "fake" news about the war in Ukraine. The Russian government has also expressed frustration over Google's blocking of YouTube channels linked to state-controlled media.

Although Shakhnazarov admitted that inappropriate material exists on YouTube, he noted that those determined to access restricted content often find ways around limitations, while many others use the platform to enjoy films and other media. "He listened and said, 'I'll look into it'," Shakhnazarov said of his conversation with Putin.

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