A Russian internet monitoring service has reported widespread glitches affecting YouTube in Russia, with thousands of users unable to access the platform except through VPNs. The outage comes amid increasing official criticism of YouTube, which remains a major platform for free expression in Russia, hosting content by Kremlin opponents. The potential banning of YouTube, used daily by over 50 million Russians, could have damaging consequences for online freedom of speech and the livelihoods of content creators. Experts suggest that Russia may be deliberately tweaking its blocking approach to target the platform. A parliamentary committee head blamed YouTube for slow speeds, accusing the platform of ignoring Russian legislation. However, YouTube denies any responsibility for the outages, stating that they are not caused by any actions or technical issues on their part. The ongoing issues with YouTube in Russia highlight the challenges faced by online platforms in navigating the country’s regulations while maintaining freedom of speech and access for users.
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