Russia threatens to slow down Google
Media in the Russian Federation, including the internet, is regulated by Roskomnadzor (Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications), a branch of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications has threatened to cut Google's Internet speed if it does not remove the content, accusing it of promoting "illegal content." The country's Internet regulator, Roscomonadzor, has given Google 24 hours to remove videos related to drugs, violence and extremism. This ultimatum will be effective from Thursday.
In addition, Google, which owns YouTube, could be fined between 800,000 and 4,000,000 rubles (or 11,000 to 55,000 US dollars) for such content. The court has fixed July 14 for the hearing. Google did not respond to a request for comment.
Russia's state-run news agency TASS reported that Roscomonadzor had sent more than 26,000 notices to Google asking them to remove "illegal information". Allegations against Google include limiting YouTube access to Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik, and supporting "illegal protests."
Internet traffic
If Google does not listen, the speed of the Internet may be reduced for Russian users to access Google. Roscomonadzor's threat is not to be discarded. The company used the power on Twitter in March, accusing it of failing to remove about 3,000 posts. Russian Internet service providers can restrict or block the flow of data on a website, or even slow down the Internet when accessing certain pages.
YouTube in the case
Google is currently suing Roscomonadzor over the removal of the content, according to court documents obtained by Reuters. A total of 12 YouTube videos have been sued by YouTube, including one in which children were encouraged to join illegal protests in January in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Mr. Navalny's YouTube channel has more than 7.5 million subscribers and he regularly posts videos on the platform and criticizes President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government.
