Google faces a fine of 5-10% of its turnover in Russia for failing to delete banned content, including "misleading information" on YouTube about events in Ukraine.
Russia Accuses YouTube of Allowing 'Distorted Facts' About Ukrainian Conflict
The Russian state communications regulator said that it had found several instances of banned content still available on YouTube, including videos that "distorted the facts" about the conflict in Ukraine. This is the second time the company has been fined for similar violations. In 2017, Google was ordered to pay a fine of 4 million roubles (approximately $56,000) for failing to remove banned content from its search results.
Google has not yet commented on the latest fine. However, the company has previously said that it works hard to comply with local laws and remove content that is illegal in Russia.
The regulator also adds that YouTube has deliberately promoted the spread of fake and misleading news about the ongoing "special military operation in Ukraine, discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation."
The offense could go for a fine of as much as 10% of its annual turnover in Russia. The amount is yet to be determined, but reports from Reuter indicate that it could go as far as 8%.
How Has The West Media Responded to the Conflict?
According to reports on Ukraine's stance on the ongoing conflict, Russia is confronting an illegal land grab. The United Nations Human Rights Agency has also accused Russia of violating international law by deploying secret military forces in Crimea. The European Union and the United States have both imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
Google has come under fire in recent years for its handling of content on its platforms. In 2018, the company was criticized for allowing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to keep a YouTube channel despite violating the site's rules. Jones was later banned from YouTube and other platforms.
According to the Russian regulator, YouTube has carelessly allowed the proliferation of content that promotes extremist views. They also allege that these types of content prompted children to participate in unauthorized protests.
The regulator has given Google 15 days to remove the offending content and to develop a plan to prevent similar violations in the future. Otherwise, the company will face a fine of up to 10% of its annual turnover in Russia.
Russia has also made moves in the past to restrict access to Twitter and Meta's Facebook and Instagram. It has not yet blocked Google from the country, however. According to reports, YouTube and Google have not yet gone beyond the "line of reasonableness" despite their alleged involvement in an information war against Russia.
The move by Russian authorities against Google is seen as an extension of the Kremlin's efforts to control the spread of information online. Critics say the Russian government is using its laws to silence dissent and stifle free speech. We have yet to see how things would eventually unfold in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but we're definitely seeing its spill-over effects on the internet today.
