Google has taken significant action against Russian-backed YouTube channels, banning over a thousand channels and more than 5 million videos. This move comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and the tech giant, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Digital Development reported that Google has also restricted the creation of new accounts for Russian users, contributing to a notable decrease in SMS messages sent by the company. As a result, the ministry has advised users to create backup copies of their data and explore alternative authentication methods.
The restrictions on Google's services in Russia highlight the increasing pressure the company faces from the Russian government. Moscow has long accused Google of failing to comply with its demands to remove content deemed illegal, especially content related to the war in Ukraine. In response to these ongoing challenges, Google suspended its AdSense accounts in Russia last year and halted ad displays to Russian users since March 2022.
