MOSCOW, July 10 The head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Alexander Khinshtein, believes that YouTube, by blocking Russian media channels, is forcing Russia to build its own infrastructure, and the need for the services of a «censored video hosting service» will disappear.
He recalled that, according to Roskomnadzor, YouTube has blocked more than 200 Russian media channels and personalities since 2020.
«The actions of the video hosting service cannot be called anything other than censorship. YouTube methodically burns out the point of view that is undesirable to its patrons, using the platform as a weapon in the information war with Russia… With its blocking, YouTube, without realizing it, is shooting itself in the foot. It literally forces us to build our own infrastructure, in which the need for the services of a censored video hosting service will simply disappear,» he wrote on his Telegram channel.
Khinshtein added that a clear example of this is the post-sanction growth of the IT industry.
«Judging by the trend, the pace of blocking will only increase, so I suggest that users nevertheless begin to consider and master alternative domestic platforms (RuTube, VK), so as not to be left with nothing overnight,» the deputy added.