Google Not Facing Ban in Russia, Officials Clarify Amid Tech Crackdown

TLDR

• Russian officials have confirmed that there are no immediate plans to block Google in the country.
• Blocking Google could negatively affect millions of Russian smartphone users relying on Android.
• Russian lawmaker Anton Gorelkin stated that legal proceedings, not a ban, will address Google’s ongoing lawsuits.
• Any potential ban on Google should be gradual and supported by proper legislative conditions.
• YouTube and WhatsApp have faced harsher restrictions in Russia, including removal from DNS servers and being labeled “extremist.”

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Russian authorities have no immediate plans to block Google within the country, despite ongoing restrictions on other tech platforms. Russian officials made this clear amid escalating actions targeting services like YouTube and WhatsApp. The country’s telecom watchdog, Roskomnadzor, continues to impose strict measures against platforms that don’t comply with Russian laws, but Google remains unaffected for now.

Anton Gorelkin, first deputy chairman of the Committee on Information Policy at the State Duma, confirmed there were no intentions to ban Google. He emphasized that any such move would negatively affect millions of Russian smartphone users who rely on Android. With Android running on 60% of Russia’s smartphones, blocking Google could have severe consequences for the country’s tech ecosystem.

Google’s Status in Russia

The lawmaker acknowledged that blocking Google would not be an effective way to enforce fines against the company. According to Gorelkin, the ongoing lawsuits involving Russian firms and Google would not be resolved by such a drastic move. He noted that hearings are still underway in foreign courts, and alternative legal measures are being pursued to address the issues.

Gorelkin further stated that if a future ban on Google were to be considered, it should be implemented gradually. He highlighted the importance of creating the right legislative framework for a smooth transition to domestic alternatives. While the idea of abandoning Google is not entirely ruled out, the government is taking a more cautious approach.

Restrictions on Other Platforms

While Google remains unaffected, other platforms, such as YouTube, have felt the full force of Russia’s punitive measures. The Russian government has removed YouTube’s domain from Roskomnadzor’s DNS servers, cutting access to the video-sharing platform. This action follows similar measures against WhatsApp, Meta’s messaging service, which has been declared an “extremist” organization by Russian authorities.

Despite these moves, some tech experts argue that Russia’s firewall is not capable of blocking all foreign platforms at once. The country’s internet infrastructure simply cannot handle a complete shutdown of services like Google and YouTube.

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