Russia tells Google to stop sharing anti-Russian ads against its people on YouTube

Following its ban on social media websites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, Russia has now taken a hit at US-based tech giants Google and its video platform YouTube. Russian regulators on Friday accused Google and YouTube of "terrorist" activities, in a possible first step towards an access ban. authority claimed that video platform was brocasting ‘anti-Russian videos’ amid ongoing Russia Ukraine war.

Russia h earlier announced an access ban on global media tech giants like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. restriction h come alongside an access ban on all independent media. Following this, Russian media regulator Roskomnzor has now accused YouTube of letting users share verts against Russian ministration. It claimed that videos on platform were calling for communications systems of Russia and Belarus' railway networks to be suspended and it was being brocasted as part of anti-Russian propaganda. 

" YouTube ministration's activities are terrorist in nature and threaten life and health of Russian citizens," Roskomnzor said, quoted by Interfax news agency. "Roskomnzor categorically opposes such vertising campaigns and demands that Google stop brocasting anti-Russia videos as soon as possible," it said while denouncing Google's “anti-Russian position”. Russia h imposed heavy restrictive measures on media following Putin’s announcement of Ukraine invasion. Moscow now seems to be looking at a possible ban on Google’s YouTube.

Instagram and Facebook banned in Russia 

Notably, Instagram, which is most popular social media website in Russia, was spared in first round of sanctions but later Meta was accused of allowing anti-Putin sentiments on Facebook. refore, it might have been tagged as an “extremist organisation” by Roskomnzor leing to its subsidiary Instagram’s ban. Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta said that temporary alterations in hate speech policy toward Russia are applicable to Ukraine's users only as, after Russia-led war on Kyiv, it is incorrect to prevent Ukrainians from 'expressing ir resistance and fury at inving military forces.' 

Russia, although has banned Facebook, opened a criminal probe against Meta's hate speech policy wherein Russian prosecutors has sought that court deems US social media giant as an 'extremist organisation'. Interestingly, as Kremlin continued to cut down on its online space and even restricted access to social networking application Instagram, Russia-based tech entrepreneurs are set to launch a photo-sharing application called Rossgram, to replace Meta owned app within domestic market. new application is slated for launch on March 28. 

Image: AP/ UNSPLASH