The head of the State Duma on Inform Policy, Alexander Hinshtein, has stated that YouTube has committed numerous violations that warrant its blocking in Russia. However, he added that this is currently impossible as no alternative video service has emerged in the country. Speaking at the PMEF during the discussion “Digital dictatorship vs digital sovereignty: problems, risks, opportunities”, Hinshtein acknowledged that the number of grounds for blocking YouTube’s service in Russia is already ten times higher than it should be.
Hinshtein also noted that it would be premature to block YouTube, as no Russian video service has yet emerged as a direct competitor. Although Rutube and others have gained popularity, they have not yet reached the same level as YouTube. Hinshtein added that YouTube began with a much smaller audience than Rutube, but this changed over time.
There is significant support for Hinshtein’s views, including from businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin who has requested that the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office limit access to the video service, and label Google as an unwelcome company in the country.