YouTube has disappeared from the Russian internet. The regulatory body Roskomnadzor has removed the domain "youtube.com" from its DNS servers. When accessing the video platform from Russia, routers are unable to match the website address with the user's IP address and are sending an error message. The WhatsApp domain has also disappeared from Roskomnadzor's DNS servers. This coincides with the ongoing campaign by Russian authorities against the messaging app Telegram. Experts believe that Roskomnadzor is increasingly targeting services that are outside its direct control.
To clarify: DNS (Domain Name System) servers function like the internet's phone book, while IP addresses are numerical labels that allow computers, smartphones, and routers to be reached and identified. If the communication between a DNS server and an IP address is blocked, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help by establishing an encrypted connection between your device and the server. This allows you to bypass geoblocks and browse anonymously.
DW spoke to experts and internet users about ways to bypass Russian blocks, and anonymously surveyed 9.000 users about their problems with YouTube in Russia. Of these, 46 percent said they use the video platform via a VPN, 24 percent reported persistent connection problems despite using a VPN, a further 27 percent said they did not live in Russia, while three percent said they did not use a VPN and had experienced problems.
Changes in access to sites
Michael Klimarev, an expert on Internet censorship, stated on the Telegram channel "zatelecom" that Roskomnadzor's DNS servers should actually be called NDNS, or "National Domain Name System." He describes it as a software-hardware system introduced in Russia along with the law on the "sovereign Russian Internet." "In essence, it is an alternative 'Internet directory' that Russian telecommunications operators must use," Klimarev points out. According to the law, Russian providers are not allowed to use international directories, but only NDNS, which allows for centralized control of access to websites.
According to the Telegram channel "na_svjazi", 13 domains were recently removed from the NDNS, including those of DW, BBC, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Facebook and Instagram. Until now, Roskomnadzor has primarily used DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) technology to restrict access, which allowed it to analyze and filter Internet traffic. DPI can also reduce data transfer speeds, which for users in Russia means slow or completely impossible loading of video content on YouTube. Although the service was technically available, it functioned with difficulty and intermittently.
Independent telecommunications expert Alexei Uchakin told Russian business portal RBC that Roskomnadzor's capacity to slow down data transmissions may be limited. That's why, according to him, the authorities have resorted to stricter blockades in order to free up resources to block Telegram.
What do YouTube users say?
In comments on DW's YouTube channel, users report a drop in access quality. "Even with a VPN, the slowdown and instability are noticeable," wrote one user. Another points out that "YouTube is harder to watch," but believes the problem is not with the platform itself, but with the VPN, since he uses the free versions. A third says that he never turns off the VPN on his laptop "because without it, nothing works anymore."
At the same time, many complain that VPN services are not reliable either. Comments suggest that the cause could be limits imposed by VPN providers or ad blockers.
What is happening with the internet in Russia?
Experts believe that the blocking of YouTube and WhatsApp is related to the current pressure on Telegram. Roskomnadzor officially confirmed the service restrictions for this platform, explaining them by "violation of Russian law" and "threat to the security of citizens." A court in Moscow charges Telegram with failing to remove prohibited content and failing to fulfill "obligations of a social network operator." The company has already been fined almost 11 million rubles (about 120.000 euros).
Experts warn that these developments could lead to the formation of a separate Russian Internet segment, which will be less and less aligned with the global network. In this case, the Internet in the Russian Federation could gradually move away from the rest of the world.
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