Russia is set to significantly throttle YouTube speeds on desktop computers due to Google’s refusal to unblock channels tied to Russian media. This action arises amidst ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Senior Russian Lawmaker’s Statement
Alexander Khinshtein, a senior Russian lawmaker, indicated that the speed reduction is a direct result of Google’s failure to upgrade its infrastructure in Russia and its refusal to adhere to Russian content moderation requirements. Khinshtein mentioned that YouTube speeds could decrease by up to 70% next week.
Roskomnadzor’s Accusations
Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has also accused Google of neglecting its Russian infrastructure, leading to the bankruptcy of its local subsidiary. This financial strain has impaired Google’s ability to pay for local data center services.
Google’s decision in March 2022 to block channels associated with Russian state-funded media, citing its policy on violent events, has further strained relations between the two countries. In retaliation, Russia has implemented various measures, including blocking and slowing down other social media platforms.
Despite these restrictions, many Russians continue to access blocked content via virtual private networks (VPNs).
