Russian Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dispelled rumors that YouTube could be banned in Russia after reports emerged that users in the country might experience slowdowns on the platform due to technical issues related to Google’s servers. Speaking to reporters, Peskov stated that there are no plans by the government to restrict access to YouTube and attributed the issue to problems with the tech giant’s hardware, which has not been updated for over two years.
Russia’s largest internet provider, Rostelecom, had earlier warned of potential slowdowns on YouTube as a result of Google limiting its presence in the country following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. The deputy head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Anton Gorelkin, also confirmed that issues with YouTube’s speed in Russia were not due to any decision made by the regulator.
In 2022, Google informed Russian internet service providers that it would terminate its contracts for servicing Google Global Cache servers located within the country. These servers are crucial for speeding up the loading of Google pages and reducing cross-border traffic by temporarily storing uploaded data, thereby lowering network infrastructure costs.
Despite the technical issues, Peskov stressed that it was YouTube that took the position to restrict its services in the Russian market, not the government’s decision. He expressed regret over this move but acknowledged the inevitable consequences of leaving the market.