Russia has reportedly demanded that YouTube lift the restrictions it placed on channels operated by RT, Sputnik, and other Russian media outlets at the Ukrainian government’s request.
CNN reports that YouTube blocked access to certain Russian media outlets within Ukraine on Feb. 26; the company also stopped running ads on videos uploaded by those channels.
YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi told CNN the company would also be “pausing a number of channels’ ability to monetize on YouTube, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions,” and “significantly limiting recommendations to these channels.”
Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirms that it asked Google to make these changes (among others) in the following tweet:
Reuters reports that Russia’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor, sent a letter to Google demanding that YouTube lift those restrictions and restore access to the channels within Ukraine.
Google didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment seeking more information about the contents of Roskomnadzor’s letter or how YouTube plans to react to the regulator’s demands.
But it seems YouTube won’t be the only Alphabet-owned company drawing the Russian government’s ire. Reuters reports that, following another request from the Ukrainian government, Google has removed the RT News app from the Google Play Store in the country.
