Google is many things. It’s a search engine, it’s an email provider, it’s a mobile platform, but a tool for US propaganda? That might be up for debate, but Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to think so. During Putin’s annual phone-in session with the country’s citizens, the Russian President accuses the US government of using Google as a tool to advance its political agenda.
Slow YouTube speeds
Back in August, YouTube acknowledged that there have been reports that users in Russia were unable to access its platform. The company stated that this was due to actions taken on its part, nor were there any technical issues. Instead, some critics believe that Russian authorities are the ones causing disruptions to YouTube.
This is apparently to prevent the country’s citizens from accessing videos on YouTube that might contain content that is critical of Putin and his government. Unsurprisingly, the Russian government has denied those claims. Putin claims that Google’s reduced investments in the country and the failure to “supply the necessary equipment” created these problems.
Putin was quoted as saying, “Google, by reducing its investments in Russia and failing to supply the necessary equipment, has created problems for itself. Furthermore, YouTube and Google must comply with our laws and refrain from using the internet to advance their government’s political goals.”
YouTube has also, since the start of the Ukraine war, removed over 1,000 Russian channels. This includes state-backed news outlets and over 5.5 million videos. As a result, 17 Russian TV channels have brought Google to court. The courts have also issued compound fines, which the government is hoping will force Google to change its mind.
Russian alternatives
Russia has actually blocked access to several major social media websites. This includes Twitter (now known as X), Facebook, and Instagram. Interestingly enough YouTube is still accessible. Russia is hesitant to block the platform. Blocking access to YouTube could cause its citizens to turn on the government as it is accessed by approximately 50 million Russians on a daily basis.
In countries like China, where authorities block popular Western-based services, companies have created their own local alternatives. This includes Bilibili, Baidu, and Xiaohongshu, China’s answer to YouTube, Google, and Facebook respectively. Russia has done something similar with platforms like VK, RuTube, and Telegram.
The difference is that none of these platforms have managed to challenge YouTube in any significant way. This could also be another reason why Russia is hesitant to block YouTube completely.
