Threats Against Russians on YouTube are to stop, the Russian government tells Google

Google's YouTube video-sharing platform could be blocked in Russia if Russia demands that the company stop spreading threats directly against its citizens. The move could presage outright blocking of the service.

We received no response from Google representatives inside Russia or outside Russia upon contacting them via e-mail for comment.

As the U.S. tech giant's anti-Russian campaign unfolded on the platform, Roskomnadzor said adverts called for the suspension of rail communication systems in Russia and Belarus. Advertisements were not specified by which accounts.

“The actions of YouTube’s administration are of a terrorist nature and threaten the life and health of Russian citizens,” the regulator said.

Russia's communications regulator and politicians are severely pressing YouTube to block Russian state-funded media on its global platform.

Russia blocked Instagram this week after being outraged by the postings by Meta Platforms allowing users in Ukraine to write messages such as "Death to the Russian invaders." It had already blocked access to Facebook because of restrictions imposed by the platform on Russian media.

“It’s not that I’m calling for everyone to immediately leave YouTube,” he said on his Telegram channel. “But, probably, in light of recent events it is worth following the principle of not keeping all your eggs in one basket.”

19 March 2022