Facebook also announced that the Russian government would partially limit access after accusing it of “censoring” Russian media.
Facebook and YouTube have announced they will be blocking Russian state media from running ads on their platforms, while Twitter said it will suspend all advertising in Ukraine and Russia, as large tech platforms respond to the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Over the weekend Google-owned YouTube said it is “pausing’ several Russian state-media channels, including RT, from making money from ads run during their videos. In addition, YouTube will place a limit on recommendations to those channels while blocking them entirely in Ukraine following a request of the Ukrainian government.
“We’re actively monitoring new developments and will take further steps if necessary,” Google spokesman Michael Aciman said.
Twitter released a tweet on Saturday saying:
“We’re temporarily pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads don’t detract from it.”
We’re temporarily pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads don’t detract from it.
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) February 25, 2022
Facebook’s head of security policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, tweeted on Friday: “We are now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world.”
1/ We are now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world. We also continue to apply labels to additional Russian state media. These changes have already begun rolling out and will continue into the weekend.
— Nathaniel Gleicher (@ngleicher) February 26, 2022
Russia partially limiting Facebook
The Russian government announced on Friday that it would partially limit access to Meta Platforms including Facebook, accusing it of “censoring” Russian media.
According to Russia’s state communications regulator, Facebook has ignored Russian demands to lift restrictions on four Russian media outlets – RIA news agency, the Defence Ministry’s Zvezda TV, and websites gazeta.ru and lenta.ru.
Meta’s Meta’s head of global affairs, Nick Clegg released a tweet saying:
“Russian authorities ordered us to stop independent fact-checking and labeling of content posted to Facebook by four Russian state-owned media organizations. We refused. As a result, they have announced they will be restricting the use of our services.”
Ordinary Russians are using @Meta's apps to express themselves and organize for action. We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what’s happening, and organize through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. pic.twitter.com/FjTovgslCe
— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) February 25, 2022
