Google has announced a temporary halt to ad sales in Russia, reporting that the country’s regulators are increasingly scrutinized. Google has stopped selling any online advertising in Russia, following many other companies and services, including Apple Pay, and Apple’s online sales operations.
The move, which affects advertising on YouTube, third-party publishing partners and general search operations, is an extension of its previous ban on Russian state-run media.
According to Reuters, Google had previously banned any such Russian state-run media from buying or selling ads. The company also prohibits the use of war for marketing, with the exception of ads expressing protests and anti-war.
“Due to the exceptional circumstances, we are suspending Google advertising in Russia,” a spokesman said in a statement seen by Reuters. “The situation is rapidly evolving and we will continue to share updates in due course.”
Separately, Google revealed that Russian state regulator Roskomnadzor has ordered YouTube to stop displaying “misleading political information designed to mislead Russian viewers.” It also ordered Google to stop showing ads it believes contain inaccurate information about Russian military casualties and Ukrainian civilian casualties.