Google’s YouTube could be ensnared in sanctions on pro-Russia figures who run widely-viewed channels with ads

  • YouTube is under pressure to remove or cut ties with prolific pro-Russia channels, which have racked up tens of billions of views, by one estimate
  • The video platform has argued that it also hosts content critical of the Russian government and that it holds free speech as a “core value”

Silhouette of mobile user is seen next to a screen projection of the YouTube logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. Photo: Reuters
With sanctions on Russia ramping up following its invasion of Ukraine, Google’s YouTube is under pressure to remove or cut commercial ties with some of its most prolific pro-Russian channels.

The online video giant has a massive reach in Russia and has long been a popular platform for both government critics and state-backed media. But now officials in the US, the UK and Europe are discussing restrictions that could target groups and people with huge audiences on the platform, creating a dilemma for the Alphabet Inc-owned business.

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