Russian President Vladimir Putin to Google: The problem lies with you

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Google and YouTube of political manipulation and deliberately slowing down service in Russia. Putin made the comments during his annual phone-in with the Russian public. According to a report in Reuters, the Russian President said that Google acts as a tool of the US government and that YouTube’s reduced speeds are due to the company’s failure to upgrade equipment in Russia.
This accusation comes amidst ongoing pressure from Russia on foreign tech companies regarding content distribution. While Russia has blocked other social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, it has hesitated to ban YouTube, which boasts approximately 50 million daily users in Russia.