The Digital Development Minister of Russia has reportedly stated that the country is not planning to block Google’s video streaming platform YouTube as such a move would affect its users and will therefore be avoided. 

It is worth noting that previously Russia has blocked other social media platforms but despite the various warnings and fines that it has issued to YouTube for restricting access to Moscow, it is still yet to block the video-hosting service.

In this context, Maksut Shadev, the Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media, confirmed that Russia would not shut down YouTube as the country would only ban certain content as long as it doesn’t impact Russians.

It is worth noting that YouTube is quite popular in Russia, with over 90 million monthly users, and while there are local substitutes to other social media platforms in the country, a viable alternative to the platform has not yet emerged.

The tensions between the Big Tech and the Russian government grew after Russia sent troops to Ukraine on February 24. In March, Russia restricted access to various social media platforms, including Instagram and Twitter.

It also claimed that Google shut down Russian state-funded media on YouTube as part of its alleged military operation in Ukraine. In the same month, Meta was found guilty of violating the country's laws, the claims of which the social media behemoth denied, which then led to Instagram's withdrawal.

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, if Meta agrees to comply with its national laws, then Instagram would eventually be allowed to Russian users. Shadev added that despite the various restrictions that it has placed on the internet, Russia has no intentions of alienating itself from the entire global internet infrastructure.

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https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/2041088-russia-says-its-not-planning-to-block-youtube-or-cut-itself-off-from-internet