Russia announced on Monday the opening of an investigation against Google and its YouTube video platform for "abuse of a dominant position", the latest example of the standoff between the Russian authorities and the digital giants.

In recent weeks, Moscow has increased sanctions against Americans Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, but also against Chinese TikTok, denouncing their omnipotence and criticizing their choice to publish (or not) certain content, especially political.

In this context, the Federal Anti-Monopoly Agency (FAS) said it had opened this new investigation against Google because “the rules for creating, suspending and blocking YouTube accounts and user requests are opaque, non-objective and unpredictable. ".

"This leads to sudden blockages and the deletion of user accounts without warning, or basis for such actions", continued the Russian regulator, adding that these measures can "harm the interests of users and limit competition".

A report made in December

This investigation was launched following the report of an unknown Russian organization, the Regional Center of Internet Technologies (Rotsit), which presents itself as a group defending “the interests of Russian Internet users”. "The fact that the publication and broadcasting of video content in Russia can be regulated by the legislation of other countries is not correct," the organization denounced in December, announcing this report.

According to this organization, the current conditions of use of Google allow to "arbitrarily restrict any account" and the reasons for blocking or suspension are "subject to the almost unlimited appreciation of YouTube".

In a country where, unlike traditional media, the Internet remains relatively free, many Russians are increasingly getting information from platforms like YouTube.

The investigations of the opponent Alexeï Navalny have tens of millions of views.

Russian authorities irritated

On Monday, the spokeswoman for the jailed activist said she received a message from YouTube informing her of a request from Russian telecoms gendarme Roskomnadzor.

The latter, according to YouTube, requested the deletion of a recent video on the account of the opponent calling for a demonstration on Wednesday to denounce the conditions of his imprisonment for the deterioration of his state of health.

At the same time, Russian authorities have recently been irritated by restrictions on viewing pro Kremlin films posted on YouTube.

Roskomnadzor thus accused the platform of censorship after warnings about potential inappropriate content concerning two documentaries, one on the hostage-taking of Beslan in 2004, the other on a battle of the Second World War.

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