Google Accused Of Being Responsible For Declining YouTube Speed In Russia

Alexander Khinshtein, head of the information policy committee in Duma Negara, (photo: x @Eric_Lecomte_)

JAKARTA - Russia experienced a sharp decline in the speed of YouTube's access on desktop computers, according to a senior legislator close to the authorities. He blamed Google for this problem. This decrease in speed is said to be a response to Google's inability to update equipment in Russia and its refusal to reopen Russian media channels.

Alexander Khinshtein, head of the information policy committee in Duma Negara, said on Thursday 15 July that a 40% decrease in YouTube speed expected to increase by 70% next week was a result of Google's (or more precisely, non-activities) actions.

Khinshtein claims that the decline in YouTube quality was due to Google's failure to update Google Global Cache's servers in Russia. He also added that Google does not invest in Russian infrastructure and let its local subsidiary go bankrupt, resulting in the inability to pay for local data center services.

Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, also noted a decline in YouTube quality due to this issue. Google itself has not commented on the allegations.

Since March 2022, YouTube has blocked access to channels linked to Russian state-funded media, citing policies banning content that denies or underestimates well-documented violence. Google Russia then filed for bankruptcy at the same end of the year after its bank account was seized by Russian authorities, which led to operational inability in Russia.

Russia has blocked and slowed access to various other social media, and many Russians use virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent such restrictions. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov even proposed blocking YouTube as a whole.

Khinshtein said Moscow's biggest complaint was its "open anti-Russian" YouTube policy and its refusal to open Russian media channels at Roskomnadzor's request.