YouTube Outage Hits Russia After Country Throttles Loading Speeds
Thousands of YouTube users in Russia reported issues with the site’s desktop version on Thursday, with many unable to access the platform. The outage comes after a Russian official promised to slow down YouTube speeds in the country by 70%.
Russia’s Promise to Slow Down YouTube Speeds
The Moscow Times reports that one outage tracker received 12,000 reports of a YouTube outage in Russia, while another received over 1,400. RBC-Ukraine reports that users also faced issues with YouTube’s Android app in Russia, while some mobile users can still access the app.
Reuters journalists in Russia also report that YouTube isn’t working in the country. Russian authorities have dragged YouTube speeds down to an absolute crawl at just 128 kbps. Speeds this slow can’t play videos over 240p, and can only handle some audio.
Using a VPN to Bypass Censorship
While the platform hasn’t seen an outright block per se, lowering speeds this dramatically is as good as a ban for most users. YouTube users in Russia can technically get around this censorship by using a VPN. However, this is not a foolproof solution and may not work for all users.
Tensions Between Russia and US Social Media Platforms
Tensions and conflicts between the Russian government and US social media platforms have been on the rise since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. YouTube and Russia have jostled over which channels get to stay up, with Russia previously calling for Google to restore 200 pro-Kremlin channels that YouTube had taken down.
Mikhail Klimare, director of the nonprofit Internet Protection Society, has repeatedly criticized Russia’s internet censorship, recently telling The Moscow Times that the YouTube slowdown is “a clear case of blackmail.”
Image: A diagram of internet censorship in Russia
Lexar’s Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub
In other news, Lexar’s new Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub is now available on Kickstarter. The device is designed to add up to 2TB of storage to an iPhone, making it ideal for mobile filmmakers who need to capture high-quality video on the go.
How Lexar’s SSD Works
The Lexar SSD can be connected directly to the iPhone’s USB-C port and hang off the bottom, or using an included angled adapter that positions the SSD out of the way against the back of the iPhone. The SSD can also be paired with a four-port USB-C hub, although two of those ports are immediately claimed by the SSD and the angled connector to the iPhone.
Amazon’s Partnership with Anthropic
Amazon has invested four billion US dollars into US AI firm Anthropic. The UK’s competition watchdog has confirmed it is launching a merger inquiry into Amazon’s partnership with Anthropic.
The CMA’s Investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has “sufficient information” to begin an initial investigation into the partnership, in order to establish whether a more in-depth review is needed. The decision is the latest in a string of decisions from the regulator around examining the close partnerships between big technology firms and emerging AI companies.
Concerns Over AI Partnerships
Concerns have been raised that these big investments and partnership deals could see large companies exert some control over the direction of AI firms without attracting the regulatory scrutiny that a full acquisition might.
Image: A diagram of AI partnerships
Conclusion
The YouTube outage in Russia is a clear example of the country’s attempts to censor online content. Meanwhile, Lexar’s new SSD is a welcome solution for mobile filmmakers who need to capture high-quality video on the go. Amazon’s partnership with Anthropic raises concerns over the direction of AI firms and the potential for large companies to exert control over them.
Image: Amazon’s logo
