Google’s Targeted Advertising System Closed to Crimean Users

MOSCOW, January 23 (Sputnik) — Google's AdSense system of contextual advertising notified users registered in Crimea that their accounts would be blocked Friday, according to a letter obtained by RIA Novosti.

Google also notified its Crimean partners that the company would not be able to return money from blocked users' accounts. However, another letter sent later from Google to AdSense users contradicted this, saying that the company would refund all sums exceeding $10.

Earlier on Friday, US-based digital payment system PayPal notified customers in Crimea that it will stop providing services to residents of the peninsula.

Earlier in the week, US company Apple informed developers and companies registered in Crimea that they were no longer able to place their products on the AppStore service, an on-line store selling programs for iPhones and iPads. Apple has also banned all its authorized dealers from selling the company's products in the Crimean region from February 1.

In December 2014, US payment giants MasterCard and Visa suspended services to banks in Crimea.

US companies have ceased business activities in the peninsula in the wake of an order issued by US President Barack Obama on December 19, 2014. The order said that US companies must stop supplying products to Crimea by February 1, 2015.

The restrictions specifically targeting Crimea were imposed by Western countries after Crimea's reunification with Russia in March 2014.