Russians Say YouTube Access 'Restored' After Plea To Putin

YouTube Access Restored in Russia

Russian internet users reported on Friday that access to YouTube has been restored after President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to unblock the video-sharing platform.

The move comes after several days of uncertainty over the fate of YouTube in Russia, as the government had threatened to ban the platform over its alleged failure to remove content that Moscow deems illegal.

Putin's Intervention

On Thursday, Putin met with representatives of the Russian media industry and ordered the government to unblock YouTube within 24 hours.

The order came after several Russian media outlets, including the state-owned RIA Novosti news agency, called on Putin to intervene and prevent YouTube from being blocked.

Government Compliance

The Russian government quickly complied with Putin's order and unblocked YouTube on Friday morning.

The restoration of access was welcomed by many Russian internet users, who had expressed concern about the potential ban on YouTube.

Background of the Issue

The Russian government has been increasingly critical of YouTube in recent months, accusing the platform of failing to remove content that Moscow deems illegal.

This content includes videos that promote terrorism, extremism, and child abuse.

YouTube's Response

YouTube has said it is committed to removing illegal content from its platform.

However, the company has also said that it believes in freedom of expression and that it will not remove content simply because it is critical of the Russian government.

Continued Concerns

Despite the restoration of access to YouTube, some concerns remain about the future of the platform in Russia.

The government has said that it will continue to monitor YouTube for illegal content and that it will not hesitate to block the platform again if necessary.

Impact on Russian Users

The blocking of YouTube would have had a significant impact on Russian users.

YouTube is the most popular video-sharing platform in Russia and is used by millions of people every day.

Conclusion

The restoration of access to YouTube in Russia is a welcome development.

However, it remains to be seen whether the government will continue to tolerate the platform's presence in the country.