Russia demanded earlier Friday that Google parent company Alphabet would ensure that no more threats against Russian citizens would be shared via YouTube. According to Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor, there were advertisements on YouTube calling for the shutdown of the communication systems of the railway networks of Russia and Belarus.
The spread of those messages would be proof of the anti-Russian attitude of the tech group, it was said. Roskomnadzor even speaks of “actions of a terrorist nature”. They would threaten the life and health of Russian citizens.
Google has not yet responded to the message.
YouTube, which has blocked state-funded media worldwide, has been under heavy pressure from Russian authorities for some time. Roskomnadzor also recently ordered Google to stop showing ads containing “incorrect info” about the war in Ukraine. This concerned the numbers of Russian soldiers and Ukrainian civilians who had died in the conflict.