YouTube does not support Russian censorship
After starting a full-scale invasion of YouTube Ukraine, in consequence to sanctions against Russia, he began to restrict Russian propaganda media activities, blocking their channels. At the same time, Russian authorities have taken measures to hinder the functioning of the platform, including by blocking server infrastructure updates and deliberately slowing down its operation. Although authoritative statistic indicate a decrease in the number of YouTube users in Russia, experts point out that many citizens proceed to usage the site, bypassing restrictions via VPN.
However, the Kremlin authorities aim to permanently destruct YouTube from Russian net space. According to Andrei Swincov's declarations, the overall blockade of the platform would be introduced by the end of next year. Bielsat besides states that Russian users are to be encouraged to print content exclusively on native platforms or on services that are not considered hostile to the Russian Federation and its citizens. This includes VK Video and Rutube platforms.
The authoritative justification for the planned blockade is alleged infringements and deficiency of respect from the platform. In practice, however, the key reason remains the refusal by YouTube to submit to Russian state censorship, which the Kremlin interprets as a threat to the stableness of the current power system.
Under the coat of “digital sovereignty”
The Ukrainian Centre for Combating Disinformation underlines that actions aimed at YouTube are also component of a wider policy to restrict access to digital platforms. According to Ukrainian analysts, the Kremlin systematically blocks or restricts global services and applications specified as WhatsApp or online games to isolate the public and lock them in a tightly controlled propaganda space.
Moscow justifies these actions with the slogans "digital integrity", but in practice they lead to the reconstruction of the digital "iron curtain". In Putinian Russia, the state takes full control of the information message, deciding what citizens can see, what to perceive to and how to perceive reality.
