Russian users continue facing difficulties accessing YouTube. While some consider switching to RuTube or other social networks, many intend to defend the platform and wait for better performance. This article explains how providers attempted to bypass the blockage, how people feel about it, and what might happen next.
Question among the population
Ksenia Achkasova from Mediascore notes that as the service slowed, people spent less time on it. On July 28, average viewing time was 52 minutes. By August 25 it dropped to 38 minutes. Daily audience coverage shifted from 46 percent to 41 percent during that period.
YouTube still accounts for roughly 80 percent of overall video consumption online, yet only about 29 percent of Russians care about the platform operating reliably, according to mood data gathered by Mindscapes and reported by TASS. Another 21 percent would stop using YouTube if the service became unavailable, 17 percent do not watch videos on video hosting in general, 29 percent would seek alternatives to bypass restrictions, and 33 percent would switch to other sites when possible.
Among the most popular substitutes, Russians name RuTube at 60 percent, VKontakte at 32 percent, and Zen at 11 percent. Another 49 percent see social networks as a full replacement for YouTube. Of these supporters, 67 percent prefer RuTube, 65 percent name VKontakte as the best alternative, 44 percent point to Telegram, 33 percent to Zen, and 16 percent to Odnoklassniki. Men aged 20 to 34 show the lowest willingness to replace YouTube, at 38 percent.
Is YouTube working for you?
Providers are looking for solutions
To reduce delays and attract new subscribers, telecommunications operators began adopting new technical methods. Legal experts confirm the permissibility of such actions since YouTube is not listed in the Russian Federation’s register of prohibited resources. The Rostelecom association chair, Oleg Grishchenko, which represents about 200 regional providers, shares this view.
One approach involved redirecting traffic from Russian Google servers to European ones. Earlier, lawmakers noted that Google had stopped updating its equipment in Russia two years prior, which affected how Google Global Cache operated. In essence, the cache system speeds up data access within each country and avoids direct requests to Google servers. Google has stated it was not responsible for the slowdown in Russia.
According to Kommersant, bypass methods have been used more than ten times across the country. Leading providers such as Rostelecom, MTS and MegaFon declined to comment, though penalties remain a possibility.
Lawyer Ekaterina Abashina suggests that traffic manipulation could fall under the Administrative Code section dealing with technical means of countering threats. These tools filter traffic from providers and help block unsafe sites without their participation. Abashina notes that sanctions can extend to license loss in extreme cases.
Google’s lawsuit against Russian media
Today the first hearing on Google’s lawsuit against the TV channels Tsargrad, Spas and Russia Today began in California. The American side seeks a framework to shield Google from foreign claims, with exceptions for the United States and the United Kingdom. This may be tied to Alphabet, Google’s parent company, which has long refrained from revealing information about lawsuits involving Russia.
Such disclosures could surface because these outlets plan to sue in the United States over unblocking YouTube channels after production moved to Russia. Legal experts warn that such a case might trigger shareholder concerns for Google at home and abroad.
If courts in the United States or the United Kingdom rule in favor of quicker decisions, it would be easier for Google to ignore certain Russian requests, including those related to alleged legal violations. In response, authorities could choose to ban YouTube or maintain the status quo, potentially affecting the operator’s user base.
Background
Details about YouTube slowdowns were presented in the State Duma on July 25. Deputies attributed the issue to repeated breaches of Russian law. By August 1, users experienced significant service problems, and by August 8 the issues extended to the mobile app.
In the aftermath, subscribers from more than 135 regions began canceling contracts with internet providers. Two associations, Rosteleset and the Association of Small Operators, alerted deputies in a letter. The number of complaints about YouTube problems nearly quadrupled in ten days, rising from 1,566 to 443 cases.
If YouTube is suddenly blocked completely, what will you do?
What do readers think YouTube will face in Russia? What content are you watching now? Share thoughts in the comments.
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Source: VG Times