Mass YouTube outage in Russia
Broken Ethernet cable is seen in front of Russian flag and Youtube logo in this illustration taken March 11, 2022. (Photo via Reuters by Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
A mass outage affecting YouTube has been reported across Russia, with many users unable to access the platform without the use of virtual private networks (VPNs).
The outage comes amid increasing government criticism of the video hosting site, one of the last major platforms where Kremlin opponents can share content.
Widespread outage reported
Russian internet monitoring service Sboi.rf reported thousands of glitches on Thursday, with users across the country stating they could only access YouTube through VPNs.
“YouTube is not working,” an anonymous user commented on the site. Reuters reporters in Russia confirmed they were unable to access YouTube, though the site remained available on some mobile devices.
Google, which owns YouTube, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Russia’s state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, also remained silent on the issue.
YouTube’s role in Russian online freedom
YouTube continues to be a significant platform for free expression in Russia, hosting content from Kremlin critics that has been purged from other popular social media sites. A notable example is a video by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who later died in a Russian prison alleging President Vladimir Putin’s involvement in an opulent palace, a claim Putin denies. The video has garnered over 132 million views.
With over 50 million daily users in Russia, according to Mediascope, YouTube’s potential banning or restriction could have far-reaching implications for online freedom of speech and the livelihoods of content creators in the country.
Ongoing government pressure
The Russian government has been gradually tightening its grip on YouTube. Reports suggest that authorities have been intentionally slowing down YouTube’s playback speeds in recent weeks, a tactic attributed to Roskomnadzor by the exiled Russian news outlet Meduza. However, Russian officials, including Alexander Khinshtein, head of a parliamentary committee on information policy, have blamed Google for the slowdown, accusing the company of failing to invest in local infrastructure.
Khinshtein recently warned that YouTube speeds would be reduced by as much as 70% in the coming weeks, calling the slowdown “a necessary step” against a platform he claims has violated Russian legislation.
Uncertain future for YouTube in Russia
It remains unclear whether the Russian government will impose a complete ban on YouTube or how long the current outage will last. The platform’s future in Russia appears increasingly uncertain as government scrutiny intensifies. YouTube, for its part, has denied that any technical issues on its end are responsible for the disruptions.
As the situation develops, many in Russia and abroad are watching closely to see how these events will impact free speech and internet connectivity in the country.
