Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) unit Google has restricted the creation of new accounts for Russian users, state news agencies cited Russia’s digital ministry as saying on Thursday.
Google has been under pressure in Russia for several years, particularly for not taking down content Moscow considers illegal and for blocking the YouTube channels of Russian media and public figures since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The ministry confirms that Google has restricted the creation of new accounts,” Interfax quoted the digital ministry as saying. “Telecom operators have also recorded a significant reduction in the number of SMS messages sent by the company to Russian users.”
Google and the ministry did not immediately respond to comment requests.
The ministry said there was no certainty that SMS confirmations for two-factor authentication would continue working, Interfax reported.
“The ministry recommends that users of Google services create backup copies of their data and switch to using alternative methods of two-factor authentication or to domestic platforms,” the ministry said.
In August, Google said it was deactivating AdSense accounts in Russia.
In March 2022, the U.S. company stopped serving ads to users in Russia and paused monetization of content that exploited, dismissed, or condoned Russia’s war in Ukraine.
It has blocked more than 1,000 YouTube channels, including state-sponsored news, and over 5.5 million videos.
Slower speeds have been recorded on Google’s YouTube video hosting platform in Russia in recent months. Russian lawmakers blame the slowdown on Google’s failure to upgrade equipment, something the company and technology experts dispute.
(Source: Reuters)
Maria Reed is a financial journalist with a passion for covering US equities. She joined the ABBO News team in June 2023. Maria holds an M.S. degree in International Economics and Finance from Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg and is a CFA Level 2 candidate.