In reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Google, on Saturday, became the latest United States (US) internet firm to block Russian state-run media outlets from making money on its platforms. ayokinews.com reports
Google follows in the footsteps of YouTube subsidiary and Facebook.
“In response to the war in Ukraine, we are pausing Google monetization of Russian state-funded media across our platforms,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.
“We’re actively monitoring new developments and will take further steps if necessary.”
The measure was made public just hours after YouTube declared that, among other things, it will prohibit some Russian media outlets from advertising their videos.
“In light of extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine, we’re taking a number of actions,” a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement.
“Our teams have started to pause the ability for certain channels to monetize on YouTube, including RT’s YouTube channels globally,” the spokesperson stressed, referring to the Russian state-run news outlet.
Channels on YouTube earn money through Ads (advertisement) that appear when users watch their videos.
Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, countries throughout the world imposed wide sanctions on Russian firms, banks, elites and politicians.
“As always, our teams are continuing to monitor closely for new developments, including evaluating what any new sanctions and export controls may mean for YouTube,” a spokesperson said.
In addition to the monetization restrictions placed on Russian related medias, YouTube said it would limit recommendations to the same channels and would “continue to actively expose authoritative news content” in search results linked to Russia and Ukraine.
YouTube has also announced that videos from RT and a few other Russian-run channels would be “restricted.”
Germany banned RT in early February, prompting Russia to close the Moscow bureau of German media outlet Deutsche Welle.
YouTube has banned hundreds of channels in the last few days, including some for “coordinated deceptive practices,” the company’s phrase for misinformation.
Source (Credit): AFP
