Russian MP outlines conditions for YouTube’s return
(MENAFN) YouTube can only fully restore its services in Russia if it meets several legal and technical requirements, State Duma member Anton Nemkin told RIA Novosti. While YouTube hasn’t been officially banned, its accessibility in Russia has been severely limited since last year due to slow loading speeds, which officials initially blamed on neglected server maintenance after Google left the country in 2022. Later, authorities also pointed to YouTube’s non-compliance with Russian laws as a cause.
Nemkin stated on Friday that for YouTube to resume normal operations, it must address abandoned equipment, pay outstanding fines, and set up a legal entity within Russia. He also urged the platform to reinstate access to Russian accounts that have been blocked. YouTube has removed several Russian media channels, including RT and Sputnik, as well as numerous channels run by Russian bloggers and journalists, actions Moscow claims suppress viewpoints that differ from Western narratives.
“This isn’t about politics but about obeying the law,” Nemkin said, stressing that without these measures, there can be no talk of easing restrictions. Reports in March revealed that Russian-registered Google LLC faced astronomical fines—amounting to $1.16 quintillion—for failing to restore Russian broadcasters’ channels, with the Kremlin describing these as symbolic efforts to compel compliance.
Nemkin emphasized that any dialogue with global platforms like YouTube must happen on Russia’s terms, insisting companies comply with local laws, pay taxes, and store user data domestically. He called for an end to the unchecked dominance of major tech firms and warned that if foreign platforms return, Russia will no longer tolerate dependency on them.
“We’ve learned a tough lesson: we cannot rely on platforms that can cut us off at any time,” Nemkin said, underscoring that YouTube should no longer be the backbone of Russia’s internet. He highlighted Russia’s ongoing development of its own digital infrastructure—including search engines, cloud services, video hosting, and advertising systems—as part of a broader drive for “digital sovereignty.”
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