YouTube blocked Duma TV from the lower house of Russia’s parliament
YouTube blocked Duma TV from the lower house of Russia’s parliament, prompting an angry response from officials who said the world’s most popular streaming service could face restrictions in response.
On Saturday, a message on YouTube said the Duma channel was “terminated for violating YouTube’s terms of service.”
Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube came under pressure from Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, and officials responded quickly.
“YouTube seems to have signed its own ban. Save the content, broadcast it to Russian platforms. Hurry up,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Telegram.
The communications guard said he demanded that Google immediately restore access to the Duma channel.
“The American IT company has taken an outspoken anti-Russian stance in the information war waged by the West against our country,” Roskomnadzor said.
Google did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said YouTube’s move further proves Washington’s violation of rights and freedoms.
“The US wants to have a monopoly on information promotion. We cannot allow that,” Volodin said on Telegram.
Russia has restricted access to Facebook and Instagram, flagship Twitter and the Meta platform since sending thousands of soldiers to Ukraine on February 24.
Russia had previously tried to ban the Telegram messaging app, now widely used by officials, but lifted the ban in mid-2020.
Some Russian media saw the move as a surrender. Still, Roskomnadzor said it did so because the app’s Russian founder, Pavel Durov, was willing to cooperate in fighting terrorism and extremism on the platform.
