Russia Blocks YouTube Down to 1990s Speed in Latest Censorship Crackdown

Russian authorities have notified all major telecommunication companies in the country that they are slowing down video playback speeds on YouTube to 128 kilobits per second. A source in the telecommunications market told Meduza publication about this.

A speed of 128 kilobits per second can only be enough for listening to audio or watching video in a resolution no higher than 240p. When choosing a video with a higher resolution, users will most likely encounter noticeable delays in loading.

The Russian authorities have decided for now “not to turn off [YouTube] completely, but to slow it down significantly.”

“All telecommunication companies have been given a recommended level [of playback speed] — 128 kilobits per second on home Internet,” the source explained.