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Russian opposition voices brace for complete blackout
When a Russian lawmaker announced last week that the country would begin slowing YouTube loading speeds on desktop browsers by up to 70%, it seemed to confirm many Russians' fears that access to the video platform would be gradually restricted.
Spectators gather before a concert of Yaroslav Dronov, known by his stage name Shaman, held in protest against, what organizers called, the illegal blocking of Russian users' channels on the video-streaming platform YouTube, near the U.S. embassy in Moscow, Russia July 19, 2024. One of the placards reads: "We are together". REUTERS/Yulia Morozova
Over the past decade, YouTube has become a crucial platform for dissenting viewpoints as the Kremlin has tightened its grip on internet and media freedoms. For the exiled Russian opposition and independent media, losing YouTube would mean losing a vital channel to reach millions inside Russia and counter the Kremlin’s propaganda.
The slowdowns appear to have been triggered by YouTube’s decision to block pro-war musical acts and pro-government channels from its platform.
State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein announced the slowdowns, stating they were “directed against the administration of a foreign resource which still believes that it can violate and ignore our legislation with impunity.” His announcement came less than two weeks after YouTube removed several pro-Kremlin, pro-war artists.
Russian opposition say Khinshtein made it very clear – if YouTube doesn’t follow Russian laws, they will slow them down. What is happening right now is a clear case of blackmail, and this recent wave is directly connected to the bans on pro-government singers.
While slowdowns might seem less effective than an outright YouTube ban, the risk of public backlash from a total ban is too high. The Kremlin is also struggling to ban individual opposition channels, suggesting there may be communication between the opposition and Google to protect their speech.
Nobody knows why the authorities are so agitated about the bans, as Khinshtein himself keeps changing the reasons. But the fundamental goal is to force Google to negotiate and restore the singers to the platform, people from the opposition say.
Alexander Khinshtein is a State Duma deputy representing Russia’s Samara region and a member of the ruling, pro-Kremlin United Russia party. Known for his aggressive stance against individuals deemed “unfit” for the regime, Khinshtein frequently targets opposition figures and activists.
Impact on YouTubers and their Russian audiences
Many Russian channels from YouTube relocated to other countries, following the invasion of Ukraine. One of them is The Breakfast Show, which has since become essential for its 625,000 subscribers who tune in every morning.
For the people behind The Breakfast Show, declared foreign agents in October 2022, and many of his colleagues, YouTube is a lifeline. It allows those unwelcome and persecuted in Russia to survive and provide alternative viewpoints and analysis on the war in Ukraine and domestic politics to their audience both inside and outside Russia. They are all now awaiting the full impact of the slowdowns. It is difficult to measure what the true impact will be.
Russia’s attempts to create a domestic alternative to YouTube, such as RuTube owned by Gazprom’s media subsidiary, have largely failed.
However, the opposition is exploring workarounds like TBS Radio, which broadcasts The Breakfast Show and other channels in audio format. However, the fact remains that Khinshtein acknowledged the authorities have begun a gradual attack on Google. This supports the theory that the Russian authorities are afraid of an immediate YouTube ban, which could lead to a surge in VPN installations and social unrest.
What Was It Like Before?
Over the past decade, Russia has significantly increased its internet restrictions in its bid for greater control over the digital landscape. This has involved passing numerous laws and regulations to force compliance from both Russian and international companies.
In 2021, President Vladimir Putin signed the “Landing Law“, requiring foreign social media companies and other internet platforms with large Russian user bases to establish offices in Russia. Despite the risk of fines or having Russia-based employees arrested for noncompliance with these increasingly repressive laws, it was often too costly for companies to exit the Russian market, which included 124 million internet users in 2021, according to DataReportal.
X began the process of complying with the Landing Law just a month before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as per data published on Roskomnadzor’s website. However, Russia blocked X two months later in March.
