Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the platform „Google“ of serving as a tool for realizing the political ambitions of the US government. Particular attention was paid to the role of „YouTube“, which, according to Putin, plays a significant role in the distribution of content critical of the Russian authorities, BTA reports.
Restrictions on foreign platforms
Moscow has been exerting pressure on foreign technology companies for years, blocking platforms such as „Twitter“, „Facebook“ and „Instagram“. However, „YouTube“ remains accessible in Russia and is used daily by about 50 million users.
According to the Kremlin, the reasons for the difficulties in accessing „YouTube“ are technical and stem from the inability of „Google“ to modernize its equipment. Critics, in turn, see these restrictions as deliberate attempts to suppress freedom of speech.
Sanctions and blocked content
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, „YouTube“ has blocked over 1,000 channels affiliated with Russian state media and removed over 5.5 million videos. This has provoked a negative reaction from the Kremlin, which has repeatedly said that the platforms must comply with Russian law and not be used for political purposes.
The growing role of Russian alternatives
Putin noted that competition in the sector is growing thanks to local platforms, some of which are run by state-owned companies. Despite efforts, they still cannot effectively compete with „YouTube“ in popularity and usage among users.
Kremlin vs. „Google“
The Kremlin hopes that pressure, including through major lawsuits against „Google“, will force the company to change its actions in Russia.
Vladimir Putin's criticism of „Google“ and „YouTube“ highlights the deep differences in relations between Russia and Western technology companies. While the Kremlin emphasizes the importance of national control over the Internet, Western companies defend freedom of expression and pluralism of content. The question remains whether this conflict will escalate into a complete ban on “YouTube“ in Russia or whether the platform will be able to maintain its position in the Russian market.