Roskomnadzor undertakes coercive measures against Google over failure to comply with Russian laws
MOSCOW. April 7 (Interfax) - The Federal Communications watchdog. Roskomnadzor, has announced coercive measures against Google and its information resources over the IT giant's failure to comply with Russian laws.
"Due to the numerous violations of Russian laws by the U.S. IT company, Google LLC, Roskomnadzor has decided to undertake measures of information and economic coercion," the agency said on Thursday.
The following measures will be taken in regard to Google and its information resources: search engines will inform Internet users about the foreign entity's violation of Russian laws and a ban will be imposed on the advertising of Google LLC and its information resources as an object of advertising.
"The aforesaid information and economic measures against the U.S. IT company, Google LLC, will stay in effect until the foreign entity completely stops violating Russian laws," Roskomnadzor said.
"The YouTube video hosting service has become a key platform for disseminating fake information about the progress of the special military operation in Ukrainian territory that discredits the Russian Armed Forces," the agency said.
"In addition, YouTube does not make any efforts to contain the dissemination of information from extremist organizations, such as the Right Sector [designated as an extremist organization and banned in Russia] and the Azov regiment. More than 12,000 prohibited materials of this kind remain unremoved," it said.
Additionally, about 60 incidents of YouTube's discrimination against the content of Russian media outlets, state, civil and sport organizations, and figures have been observed since April 2020, Roskomnadzor said.
"For instance, there has been the blocking of accounts or content from news agencies such as Russia Today, Rossiya 24, Sputnik, Zvezda, RBC, NTV and many others," it said.
YouTube said in mid-March it would begin worldwide blocking of the accounts of Russian state-run media outlets.