The Kremlin has urged Google to lift its ban on Russian TV channels broadcasting on YouTube, emphasizing that significant legal claims against the company might prompt it to reconsider.
Since March 2022, Google has stopped serving ads to users in Russia and halted monetization for content it considers to be exploiting or condoning the war in Ukraine. This has led to the blocking of over 1,000 YouTube channels, including state-sponsored news outlets, and more than 5.5 million videos.
Russian business newspaper RBC reported that legal claims from 17 Russian TV channels against Google have escalated to an astonishing 2 undecillion roubles (a number with 36 zeroes), reflecting a symbolic stance against the company.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the demands illustrate the grievances Russian broadcasters have with Google, asserting that the company should not restrict their activities.
He suggested that the mounting legal claims should serve as a wake-up call for Google's management to address the situation. Google has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.