James Delahunty
14 Feb 2013 22:24
Google is challenging the inclusion of a YouTube video on a Russian blacklist, meaning it is to be blocked by Internet Service Providers in the country.
The video in question shows a woman using make-up and a razor blade to make it look like she cut her wrist. It was added to a blacklist in Russia, meaning it is to be blocked, on the grounds that it provided instructions for suicide.
Google decided to block the offending clip in Russia, or else it risked having its YouTube service blocked entirely. Now it is appealing the inclusion of the video on the list, using it as a test case to have the regulations of the blacklist clarified.
"We will, at times, restrict content on country-specific domains where a nation's laws require it or if content is found to violate our community guidelines," said a YouTube spokeswoman.
"In this case, we have appealed the decision of Russian Consumer Watchdog because we do not believe that the goal of the law was to limit access to videos that are clearly intended to entertain viewers."
In Russia, regulators can add content to the blacklist if it includes material about suicide, drugs or child sex abuse.