YouTube has temporarily paused the monetization of content coming from Russia on its platform.
The suspension of monetization is the latest step in Google and other technology companies’ efforts to limit Russian misinformation during the invasion of Ukraine.
<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1646926362960,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017c-2d8e-d3f3-a7fc-7ffef6720000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1646926362960,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017c-2d8e-d3f3-a7fc-7ffef6720000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_46926109", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"969676"} }); ","_id":"0000017f-7475-dbdc-a37f-757feb6a0000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video Embed”We’ve recently paused all Google and YouTube ads in Russia. As a follow-up, we’re now extending this pause to all our monetization features, including YouTube Premium, Channel Memberships, Super Chat, and Merchandise, for viewers in Russia,” a representative YouTube told Gizmodo. This decision is the extension of a March 4 decision made by Google to suspend all advertising in Russia.
What complicates this is that Russian content creators can still get funding from outside Russia. “Russian creators won’t be able to monetize content from viewers in Russia but can still make money from ads and other monetization products shown to users in countries outside of Russia,” the spokesperson added.
Google elaborated on this in a Thursday update, stating it has “paused the vast majority of our commercial activities in Russia — including ads on our properties and networks globally for all Russian-based advertisers, new Cloud sign ups, the payments functionality for most of our services, and monetization features for YouTube viewers in Russia.” However, the company also confirmed its free services — including Gmail, Search, and Youtube — are still operational.
YOUTUBE FLAGS OLIVER STONE’S UKRAINE DOCUMENTARY
Tech companies have made several gestures toward censoring Russia’s media efforts. These efforts include blocking Russian state media outlets such as RT and Sputnik, restricting Russian media in Europe, and eliminating misinformation from the platforms.
The efforts to censor misinformation have had some unexpected removals. YouTube removed Oliver Stone’s 2016 Ukraine documentary on Wednesday due to the video’s violent content. The documentary is now visible on the alternative video streaming service Rumble.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Google and YouTube did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner.
