Google Employees Worry About Potential Ban in Russia
Google employees are concerned that the company’s operations in Russia may be banned, in part due to the video hosting platform YouTube, which has “become a serious source of tension in relations with the government” of Russia, according to Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources.
YouTube Actions Spark Tensions
The potential ban could be triggered by YouTube’s recent actions. According to an internal document, YouTube froze the Russian Ministry of Defense’s channel last week, preventing Russian military officials from posting for seven days. The last post on the Ministry’s channel appeared six days ago.
The document states that YouTube took this step after the Ministry described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “liberation mission” in two videos, which YouTube subsequently removed. YouTube’s management was notified of the decision.
Increased Moderation of Pro-Russian Media
Following the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Google began to more aggressively moderate pro-Russian media. Initially, YouTube restricted access to RT and other state-run channels outside of Russia, and Google removed them from its news search. On March 11, YouTube deleted over a thousand channels related to the invasion that violated the platform’s content policy. YouTube executives privately acknowledged that removing RT and other channels could lead to the service being banned in Russia, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
Relocation of Google Employees
In recent weeks, Google has quietly relocated some of its employees from Russia. According to one source, Google’s Moscow office—the company’s only office in Russia—had 244 employees, and this month the company assisted those interested in relocating. The exact number of employees who left was not specified. The Moscow office itself remains open.
Another source noted that Google also relocated employees from Ukraine, where about 50 people worked in the Kyiv office. According to an internal Google document reviewed by Bloomberg, the company informed staff that its personnel are “working around the clock to provide specialized security and other support” to employees in Ukraine. A Google spokesperson declined to comment.
Monetization and Advertising Suspended
After the start of the “special operation,” YouTube announced it had fully suspended all monetization features for Russian users and stopped showing ads. Google also suspended the sale of ads on its services in Russia. However, the company has maintained its core services in the country, such as Search and Maps, “to ensure access to global information.”
Russian Regulator’s Response
On March 18, Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications regulator, called YouTube’s actions “terrorist” due to the spread of threats against Russians and demanded the platform stop. According to the regulator, YouTube was broadcasting ads calling for the disruption of railway communications in Russia and Belarus.
Later, Roskomnadzor stated that “the YouTube video hosting service, owned by the American company Google LLC, has become a tool in the anti-Russian information war. Recently, YouTube has repeatedly censored channels of Russian media registered in accordance with the law, public figures, creative groups, sports teams, as well as educational projects aimed at a wide audience and covering key moments in Russian history.”