YouTube to be closed and replaced by VK: ISW predicts further Kremlin actions regarding video hosting

YouTube to be closed and replaced with VK: ISW predicts further Kremlin actions regarding video hosting Irina Chebotnikova

Soon Russians will not be able to feel nostalgic for the USSR on YouTube/Rachit Tank, Unsplash

Access to YouTube will probably be blocked in Russia. This is the conclusion reached by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War based on statements by officials and insider data from the media.

Earlier, YouTube blocked the Moscow Stock Exchange channel. The account was blocked for violating the rules for using the video hosting service.

Moscow may block access to YouTube

Russian authorities have increasingly signaled their intention to eventually block YouTube in Russia and will likely force Russians to use social media platforms influenced or controlled by the Kremlin. Russian federal censor Roskomnadzor accused YouTube of “numerous violations” of Russian legislation and “disrespect” for Russia and its citizens, and warned that these actions are grounds for “taking action” against YouTube, according to an ISW ​​review.

Experts see this as an increase in efforts to control the activities of Russians on the Internet and the creation of a culture of self-censorship in Russia.

And the occupiers are taking the first steps toward a real ban on the video hosting service.

For example, the head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Alexander Khinshtein, said: YouTube will load 40% slower in the coming days. The reason is that allegedly Russian data centers that cooperate with Google on unspecified “gray schemes” intend to stop these schemes.

Interestingly, earlier the Russian telecommunications giant Rostelecom stated that slow YouTube loading in Russia is due to a shortage of Russian servers that host YouTube.

The opposition publication Verstka wrote that Russia is seeking to replace YouTube with the VK video service. This is evidenced by the intention to upload all Russian-language videos from YouTube to the VK service by the fall of 2024. The media outlet cites a source in Putin's administration.

“Vkontakte” is completely controlled by the authorities.The social network is headed by Vladimir Kiriyenko, the son of Deputy Chief of Staff Sergei Kiriyenko. The latter, as is known, heads various IPSOs.

Putin's office spoke out about censorship

As Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reported, Russian legislation is expanding and covers not only “ordinary life” but also the Internet. Therefore, censorship must protect civil servants and the military from “discreditation”.

“It appears that the Kremlin is trying to create a culture of compliance with censorship requirements, including using only approved programs and self-censorship of opposition or other content that is unfavorable to the government's goals. The Russian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a list of Russian programs that Russian technology manufacturers must pre-install on smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and other similar devices,” ISW notes.