New Delhi: Amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the latter has demanded that Google-owned video-sharing platform YouTube stops spreading what it describes as a "threat" against Russin citizens on the video streaming platform. According to the Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor, advertisements on YouTube were putting the life and health of Russian citizens at risk, the media has reported.
Roskomnadzor said adverts on the platform were threatening the life and health of Russian citizens and that their dissemination was evidence of the US tech giant's anti-Russian position, according to a report published by news agency Reuters.
Recetnly Meta, formerly Facebook, took down a deepfake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy where he was seen surrendering to the Russian invasion. The clip that was being circulated a statement was one he never made and it showed him asking Ukrainians to “lay down arms”.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Meta's popular photo-sharing platform Instagram was no longer accessible in Russia as the country cut off access to the platform, according to regulator Roskomnadzor. Russia's ban on Instagram came after Meta recently decided to temporarily ease its rules pertaining to violent speech and allow statements that call for harm against Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers.
Several tech giants, including Facebook parent Meta, Google, Apple, Nintendo and Netflix among others have suspended operations in Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, Google Maps and Tripadvisor had blocked the ability to post new reviews to some listings in Russia as well as Ukraine and Belarus.