Russian President Investigates YouTube Disruptions Following Complaint

The Kremlin announced on Friday that President Vladimir Putin is investigating slow speeds and disruptions on YouTube in Russia, following a complaint from the country’s top cinema official.

Critics argue that the authorities intentionally disrupt YouTube to block Russian access to a wide range of content critical of President Putin and his government.

Russia denies that, saying the issues are caused by Google’s failure to upgrade equipment—a charge disputed by the company and technology experts.

Russian internet monitoring services have reported mass outages of the online video hosting service, which is owned by Alphabet’s Google, in the last few months, but communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Friday said it was not registering any changes in the quality of YouTube’s service.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the speed issue was linked to Google’s failure to comply with Russian law and that technical questions should be addressed to Roskomnadzor.

“We are aware of reports of some people not being able to access YouTube in Russia,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement. “That is not as a result of any technical issues on our side or action taken by us.”

YouTube is used by more than 50 million Russians every day, according to research company Mediascope. It provides an important platform for the exiled Russian opposition and independent news outlets.

Peskov said YouTube speeds were not high on people’s agendas in Russia. But Karen Shakhnazarov, who has headed the state-owned giant of Soviet and Russian cinema, Mosfilm, for more than 25 years, said on Thursday he had met with Putin and discussed the issue.

“Slowing down YouTube, in my view, is not very advisable today,” Shakhnazarov said on state television. “To which the president said there are all sorts of nastiness on there.”

REUTERS