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Google's Russian subsidiary is headed for bankruptcy
Court fines of more than $100 million were due this week
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has precipitated tit-for-tat sanctions and other enforcement actions between western powers and Moscow. We've seen stories detailing McDonald's excruciating exit from the Russian market. Now, Google's operations in the country are set to file for bankruptcy.
Google's app sanctions against Russia now extend to Belarus
Belarussian residents will no longer get security updates and new features for apps they purchased
Russia has been heavily sanctioned internationally ever since it started its attack on Ukraine, but it couldn’t have made such strides in the first few weeks of the offensive if it wasn’t for Belarus. The Russian military used the small neighboring country as a launchpad for the attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, after having performed week-long military drills on Belarussian ground before. The US and the European Union have both quickly sanctioned the Russian neighbor for its role, and now Google is also acting to impose similar restrictions on the Belarussian population as it had on Russians, limiting access to paid-for apps.
Google's e-blockade of Russia now prevents access to some app updates
Russian residents will no longer receive new features and security fixes for applications they bought
The Russian attack on Ukraine has changed global trade in record time, with heavy sanctions having many businesses exit the Russian market. Among them is also Google, which has paused payments in the Play Store for those living in Russia in March, hindering them from purchasing new apps or subscribing to plans. In May, Google is going a step further, now preventing Russian residents from downloading and updating apps they’ve previously bought on the Play Store.
Google issues new warning to publishers who dismiss Russia-Ukraine war
The search giant has cracked down on irresponsible content creators before
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has dialed up Google's vigilance when it comes to monetizing controversial content. The company has received criticism in the past for allowing the monetization of hateful or violent content through its ad network. However, Google has been taking steps to address this issue. For example, at the end of March, the search giant made it clear that it would enforce already-existing rules it has about not running ads alongside victim-blaming content regarding Ukraine — and it just doubled down on the warning.
Mysterious malware linked to Russian hackers tracks you, records audio, can utterly invade your life
Check your permissions ASAP
Russian hackers have been linked to several high-profile cyberattacks, including interfering in the 2016 US presidential campaign. The Kremlin's motives in carrying out these attacks aren't always clear, but generally, they are intended to sow chaos, create distrust, and coincidentally line the hackers' — or their sponsors' — pockets as well. Russian state-supported hackers aren't just interested in going after targets in the US or Ukraine, either. The Turla group — state-sponsored Russian hackers first identified in 2020 — has been using some particularly sneaky Android malware buried inside a seemingly innocent app.
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Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to generate diplomatic and economic fallout. One casualty of the conflict has been the average Russian's access to digital resources, and in the wake of the invasion, both Apple and Google cut off the use of their respective app stores — a blow to businesses and customers alike. Businesses struggle to distribute apps to the Russian audience, and consumers lose out on access to the latest app trends and risk being left behind in the ever-changing world of technology. But Russia may have a fix for that, with plans for its own app store.
Google and Apple close loophole that was letting Russians use payment services
Tech giants have been shutting down options since Russia invaded Ukraine in February
In 2014 Russia annexed Crimea and NATO nations retaliated with economic sanctions. This prompted the Central Bank of Russia to establish Mir cards, a national payment system linked to 150 banks in the Russian Federation. Cut to eight years later, another invasion, this time of Ukraine itself. Even stronger sanctions loomed, but Russians could still use Mir cards for normal online purchases if they'd tied them to an Apple or Google Pay account — until now.
Google won't help sell ads beside content downplaying or dismissing Russia-Ukraine war
The search giant is applying rules that were already in place
Big tech companies like Google and Apple haven't backed away from the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Many have pulled or limited services to Russia, up to shutting down the ability for Russian consumers to buy their products. One of the most recent measures demonstrates just how much power one of the tech giants can wield, as Google has said it will not allow ads that exploit the war — or that assist Russia — to play on websites, apps, or YouTube channels.
Google News is now blocked in Russia over 'inauthentic' war coverage
The latest restriction from the Russian government
Restrictions to freely available information in Russia continue to be rolled out by the country's government, and the latest move blocks access to Google News for its citizens (via Reuters). Russia's communications regulator accused the Google News service of providing access to false information on the country's military operations in Ukraine.
Creepy-sounding Facestealer spyware found inside cartoon app with 100,000 Play Store downloads
It doesn't literally steal your face — but it's still bad
Kids and apps can be a dangerous combination, as any parent who's discovered a mountain of IAP charges on their account can attest to. And while new tools and safeguards are always becoming available, so too do threats constantly evolve. The innocent-sounding Craftsart Cartoon Photo Tools app was listed on the Play Store for all ages, and while it may have promised harmless fun, it turns out to have been hiding a Facebook credential-stealing Android trojan with a creeptastic name: Facestealer.
Russians rush to download Wikipedia before Putin bans it
Everyone needs lists of lakes on islands within lakes
As Russia exerts more and more control over information sources during its invasion of Ukraine, Russian internet users are realizing some online resources might soon vanish, or at least become harder to access; Putin's government has already declared Meta properties Facebook and Instagram extremist organizations. Of course, people use the internet for a whole lot more than just social sites, and apparently there's currently a wave of Russian internet users scurrying to download backups of Wikipedia, fearing that it too may soon be forced offline.
Russian court upholds Facebook and Instagram ban over Meta's 'extremist activity'
But WhatsApp can stay
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s regime quickly moved to block the Russian population from accessing international platforms like Facebook and Instagram. A Moscow court has confirmed the decision, ruling that Meta is guilty of “extremist activity.” However, WhatsApp remains operational in the country and isn’t affected by the ban, with the court saying that the messenger couldn’t be used for “the public dissemination of information,” as Reuters reports.
Google offers millions in matching donations for Ukraine relief efforts
But only $5 million? C'mon, Google
Russia stunned the world with its February 24 invasion of Ukraine, launching what may be the most modern war yet. Refugees fleeing for their lives upload selfie videos of their hellish journeys, with researchers half a world away tracking actions on the ground using tools like Google Maps. Tech's involvement in providing support for those coping with the trauma of a suddenly war-torn nation doesn't stop with tools like Maps, either — with a new effort to aid Ukraine, Google reminds us big tech can sometimes do a little good with all that money.
CISA issues warning that Russian hackers are bypassing two-factor authentication
2FA is great, but not perfect
Two-factor authentication (2FA) can be an important component of the steps you take to keep your accounts and data secure, but it's not without its flaws. As if the existing threats weren't concerning enough, now we're learning about how Russian state-sponsored hackers are undermining authentication in supposedly secure systems and disguising their access as that of legit account holders.
Russia loses access to Instagram as Putin's anti-war media crackdown continues
Facebook was booted from the country just prior
As Russian troops continue their invasion into Ukraine, Moscow's crackdown on protests against the war — dubbed a "special military operation" in propaganda — and domestic independent media has come into full force. Today, the Putin administration has clamped down on one of the remaining sources for those seeking uncensored outside information: Instagram.
Sony stops all entertainment releases in Russia, pulls Crunchyroll streaming service
No new theatrical releases either
Tech and entertainment companies continue to go dark in Russia as its invasion of Ukraine enters week three. Apple and Google were already coping with Vladimir Putin's free speech crackdowns before the February 24 invasion and quickly denounced Russia's actions and began making changes and even switching off services soon after. Sony is just the latest to make decisive moves aimed at cutting off Russian access.
Russian pressure against Google and Apple preceded Putin's invasion of Ukraine
Vladimir Putin's agents have repeatedly intimidated big tech companies
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Vladimir Putin has instituted new and Draconian laws across the Russian Federation, including fines and prison terms for protesting the war or spreading what the Kremlin calls "deliberately false information." However, Putin's agents were already at work intimidating executives with big tech companies like Apple and Google before the first tank rolled across the border.
YouTube ramps up efforts to deplatform Russian propaganda
Removing Russian state-funded media channels across the globe
In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, tech companies joined governments worldwide in taking measures against the country. Not only is the nation currently subject to severe economic sanctions, but companies like Samsung, Apple, and Microsoft have all stopped selling and shipping products there. Google is now taking steps to limit the reach of Russia's propaganda, as YouTube has announced further steps to be taken against Russian misinformation regarding the ongoing war.
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Microsoft joins Apple in freezing product sales and services in Russia
Plus limiting Russian use of Apple Pay and Maps features
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Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, NATO countries and tech companies alike (including Meta and Google) have taken serious steps to clamp down on Russian access to goods and economic resources. Now Apple and Microsoft are stepping things up, sharing plans to stop sales in Russia.
Russia demands Google block YouTube content about invading Ukraine
Those videos aren't going anywhere
One thing that really sets the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine apart from past conflicts is the internet's potent role in shaping current events. From Google Maps researchers in California who spotted Russians mobilizing hours before military vehicles crossed the border into Ukraine, to major tech companies shutting down product sales and limiting use of their services, Facebook, Apple, and Google have all become supporting players in this global crisis. The cyber-front in this war does not look like it's anywhere close to cooling down, as Russia demands that Google police YouTube for what that nation claims are "false" ads.