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Russian Media Watchdog Demands Google Restore Access to its YouTube Channels in Ukraine

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YouTube logo - Sputnik International, 1920, 27.02.2022
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Earlier in the day, Google announced its decision to pause the ability of Russian state-owned media to monetize content with ads on all of its platforms “in light of extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine”, in a move that followed Meta enacting similar restrictions on Friday.
Russia's state communications regulator Roskomnadzor has demanded that Google restore access to Russian media’s YouTube channels in Ukraine.
The Russian media watchdog’s press service said on Sunday that it had written to Alphabet Inc's Google with a demand to remove in the shortest time possible all restrictions imposed on the Russian-language YouTube channels of media outlets such as RBC, TV Zvezda and Sputnik.
It demanded that explanations be provided for such restrictions in the first place. Roskomnadzor pointed out that it had earlier received information from the editorial offices of these outlets “about restrictions imposed by the administration of YouTube video hosting platform on Russian-language channels on the territory of Ukraine."
"American Internet services, including YouTube video hosting platform, are participating in a media war, purposefully restricting Russian media, including those that are official Russian sources of information," stated the watchdog.
In its letter to the YouTube administration, the Russian media regulator noted that "such actions violate the key principles of the free distribution of information and unimpeded access of citizens to it."
RT - Sputnik International, 1920, 27.02.2022
Google Bans Download of RT Mobile App in Ukraine on Kiev's Request
Earlier, YouTube announced that it was joining Meta in banning state-funded Russian media organizations from running ads or profiting on its platform. YouTube channels earn money via ads that appear when users watch their videos.
"In light of extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine, we're taking a number of actions, we're pausing a number of channels' ability to monetize on YouTube, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions. We will be significantly limiting recommendations to these channels. And in response to a government request, we've restricted access to RT and a number of other channels in Ukraine," a YouTube spokesperson said in a statement.
Google also banned the download of the mobile application of the Russian RT channel in Ukraine at the request of Kiev, the broadcaster said on Sunday in a statement published on its official Telegram channel.
Facebook logo - Sputnik International, 1920, 25.02.2022
World
Russian Media Watchdog to Limit Access to Facebook
The developments follow Meta similarly restricting Russian state-owned media from monetizing content on Facebook – a decision announced by Nathaniel Gleicher, the platform’s head of security policy, on Twitter on Friday. In response, Moscow on Friday said it was partially limiting access to Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook, accusing it of "censoring" Russian media.
The above-mentioned moves came in response to Moscow launching a special operation on Thursday to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, in response to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces.
Vladimir Putin speaking on the phone - Sputnik International, 1920, 27.02.2022
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The Kremlin had repeatedly said that it harboured no plans to occupy Ukrainian territory, while the Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation targeted only Ukrainian military infrastructure, and the civilian population was not in danger.
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