The video platform "YouTube" (YouTube) is functioning normally again in Russia as of yesterday, after working very slowly in recent months. The platform worked normally after President Vladimir Putin promised a prominent director to resolve the issue, Russian media reported, quoted by France Presse, BTA reported.
Russian users started reporting problems with "Youtube" - property of the American giant "Google" - in the summer after Russian authorities threatened to slow the service.
The authorities, who had already blocked or slowed down several American social networks in the country, blamed Google for blocking access to YouTube. about Russian channels accused of propaganda.
Director Karen Shahnazarov, director of the film company "Mosfilm", said yesterday that at a meeting with Putin a day earlier, he had complained to him about the situation.
"Slow down "YouTube" today, in my opinion, it makes no sense," Shakhnazarov told Russian television, confirming that he had discussed the issue with Vladimir Putin. "He listened to me and said, “I will take care of it, I will check," added the director.
In the evening, Russian media reported that the platform was operating normally again. According to the website GlobalCheck, which monitors internet censorship, "Youtube" is fully available to all major Russian Internet providers.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. Russian authorities have tightened their grip on the Internet by banning a number of Western websites and social networks where their critics could freely express their opinions, such as Facebook, Instagram, and more. and "X". At the beginning of October, they also banned the discussion platform "Discord". However, these resources are still accessible from Russia through virtual private networks (VPNs) - a means of circumvention that is also being monitored by authorities, notes AFP.