Google suspends all ad sales in Russia as censorship demands grow

The emblem for Google LLC is seen at their workplace in Manhattan, New York Metropolis, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

March 3 (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google stated on Thursday that it had stopped promoting internet marketing in Russia, a ban that covers search, YouTube and outdoors publishing companions.

The transfer by the world’s high vendor of on-line adverts by income follows related pauses in Russia by Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) and Snap Inc (SNAP.N) after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“In gentle of the extraordinary circumstances, we’re pausing Google adverts in Russia,” the corporate stated in a press release. “The scenario is evolving rapidly, and we’ll proceed to share updates when applicable.”

Google earlier had banned Russian state-funded media from shopping for or promoting adverts by means of its know-how. It additionally had invoked its delicate occasions coverage, which bars advertising that seeks to reap the benefits of the warfare, with an exception for protest or anti-war adverts.

Russia’s communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Monday ordered Google to cease displaying adverts that contained inaccurate details about casualties sustained by Russian forces and Ukrainian civilians. learn extra

On Thursday, the regulator instructed Google to cease displaying YouTube adverts with “false political info” about Ukraine that aimed “to misinform the Russian viewers” about present occasions, the Wall Road Journal reported.

Moscow previously has fined or restricted entry to providers that ignore its calls for.

Google final yr paid greater than 32 million roubles in fines over content material violations.

The SPARK enterprise database confirmed final yr that Google’s turnover in Russia in 2020 was 85.5 billion roubles ($790 million).

($1 = 106.01 roubles)

($1 = 107.9990 roubles)

Reporting by Paresh Dave; Modifying by Sandra Maler and Edwina Gibbs

: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.