Roskomnadzor, Russia’s internet regulator, Friday demanded that Google immediately stop publishing threats against Russian citizens on YouTube.
In a press release, the regulator alleged that YouTube is showing advertisements calling for the disablement of railway communication lines between Russia and Belarus. It alleged that the actions of YouTube are of a “terrorist nature,” which endangers the lives and health of Russian citizens. It also said that the broadcasting of such advertisements clearly portrays the anti-Russian stance of Google, which is a US-based company.
Roskomnadzor also stated that US-based digital companies such as Meta Platforms and Google had taken a strong anti-Russia position in recent weeks. According to the regulator, these companies have launched a targeted campaign to discredit the Russian Armed forces, the media, public figures and the state as a whole. It said that these online platforms actively engage in the propagation of misanthropic appeals against Russian citizens, which go against Russian laws and violate the norms of morality.
Roskomnadzor said unequivocally that it opposes anti-Russia advertisements and asked that Google stop broadcasting such commercials as soon as possible.
Earlier this month, after Meta Platforms announced that it would relax its hate speech policy in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainians to post death threats aimed at Russia, Roskomnadzor blocked Facebook and Instagram in the country. In response, the President of Global Affairs of Meta Platforms Nick Clegg said, “our policies are focused on protecting people’s right to speech as an expression of self-defense in reaction to a military invasion of their country.”