Roskomnadzor saw reasons to take action against YouTube

RKN said YouTube is removing content from Russian journalists, public figures and musicians. “And not individual works, but entire channels that are popular among Russian users. In total, more than 200 of our channels are blocked. This year alone there are more than 80 accounts,” the department said.

According to Roskomnadzor, the American company does not respond to demands to unblock Russian videos. “We have enough tools to motivate the company in such a situation; the right to use them remains with the Russian side,” the regulator’s press service stressed.

On Thursday, December 19, subscribers of MTS, Megafon, T2 and Beeline began to complain about problems accessing YouTube on mobile devices. Previously, the video service slowdown only affected the desktop version. An RBC source in the media market admitted that YouTube faces a “total block” in Russia. “Previously there was a 30% block and only on desktop computers, but starting in mid-December they will be strengthened and blocked completely,” said the publication’s interlocutor.

Roskomnadzor explained the problems with accessing YouTube on mobile devices by the fact that Google, the owner of the service, “has stopped supporting the infrastructure of its cache servers in our communication networks.”

Vladimir Putin said during a hotline on December 19 that YouTube and Google will be able to operate in Russia if they comply with local laws and do not engage in propaganda. At the same time, he recalled that the Russian platforms VK, Telegram and Rutube are ready to compete with video hosting. “A holy place is never empty,” the president noted.