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Tech Turns on Russia

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The flag of Ukraine

Nations and even tech companies have stood up against Russia in support of Ukraine.

By now, you’ve surely heard about Russia invading Ukraine. Millions displaced, houses destroyed, all for one man’s ego. Ukraine has reached out to the global community for support in any way we can provide it. Donations, accepting refugees, sending arms, cyber attacks, and sanctions. The world has largely answered their call, at least in small ways, and has condemned Putin’s attack.

This has had an interesting effect on the tech world. With nearly every nation in the world speaking out against Russia, companies in those countries have followed suit. Many networks removed or fact-checked Russian state-sponsored media. Others removed their income sources and ability to advertise. A few companies pulled apps, services, and even products from Russia. Countries responded to Russia’s violence against the Ukrainian people with support for Ukraine and sanctions for Russia. Companies have an embargo of their own.

Disappearing Online

The U.S. Justice Department forced RT America to register as a foreign agent since 2017. Other state-sponsored Russian networks, like Sputnik, have faced similar scrutiny. All for good reason. Russian media is heavily controlled by Russia’s ruler, Vladimir Putin. The news in Russia is largely fluff pieces about Putin and propaganda supporting Russian imperialism. In 2014, Russia Annexed Crimea, part of Ukraine. Now they’re going for the rest of Ukraine.

Multiple websites have outright banned RT and Sputnik, as well as other Russian media. TikTok, Spotify, and Roku banned streaming of content from these state-controlled media sources. Both Apple and Microsoft removed Russia’s propaganda networks from their app stores. Google, however, has not, and you can still access RT and Sputnik on the Google Play Store. However, Google (Alphabet) did go after Russian media in a different way.

Hitting their Wallets

YouTube, also owned by Google (now Alphabet), has demonetized Russian state media. Russian media also can’t buy ads, and YouTube will limit the spread of their videos. Over the course of a year, between 2017 and 2018, Omelas, an internet research firm, estimated Russia received $27 million from YouTube ads. That’s a large chunk of the $73 million the networks brought in over the past 12 years. These Russian media sources burst into popularity in the United States thanks to Donald Trump’s uncomfortable familiarity with the Kremlin and Russia’s support of the former president. Relevant today was Trump’s withholding of U.S. aid to Ukraine in exchange for political favors leading into the 2020 election. Requests that were denied. Now these Russian propaganda networks can profit neither from the division they sewed in American politics nor from Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Similarly, Facebook (Meta) limited Russia’s state-sponsored media. In Ukraine, all Russia media is blocked, preventing them from being aware of Russian propaganda and potential misinformation to weaken defense efforts. Facebook has also blocked Russian state media from accessing any monetization features, including running ads. Facebook has also found pro-Russian disinformation campaigns and dissolved them. Fortunately, protecting American elections since Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election gave them ample experience.

Then there’s Twitter. Twitter uniquely suspended all advertising in Ukraine and Russia. This was to promote confirmed information instead of misleading propaganda. Russia actually blocked Twitter due to images and video of Russia’s attack in Ukraine, many of which seem to show Russia committing war crimes, like attacking civilians and hospitals.

Dropping Sales, Services

Apple Maps screenshot showing the Crimean peninsula as part of Ukraine

Apple announced today they’ll stop all sales in Russia. The company halted online sales, that is, all sales directly from Apple as the company has no physical locations in Russia. Third-party retailers can continue selling Apple products in Russia. Thanks to banking regulations and actions taken by companies individually, Apple Pay and Google pay no longer work in Russia, though most users prefer a Russian payment service. Under 30% of Russians used Apple Pay or Google Pay, but they’re not going to be happy.

Interestingly, Google and Apple also took action with their maps. Both turned off live traffic for safety. While researchers could use traffic alerts to view the progression of Russia’s forces into Ukraine, it also could reveal Ukrainian forces as well as fleeing refugees. Apple took it a step further, and reverted their maps, showing Crimea as a part of Ukraine everywhere but in Russia. Previously, Apple took a neutral stance, showing Crimea as belonging to no country. Then, in 2019, Russian maps and weather began showing Crimea as part of Russia. While this is still in effect, everywhere else sees the Crimean peninsula as part of Ukraine, as it was prior to Russia annexing it.

Starving Russia

The world has been cutting Russia off from goods, services, even banking. The ruble, Russia’s currency, has plummeted in value. It’s now worth less than one U.S. cent. Even Putin’s billionaire oligarch allies are now questioning Putin as they slip towards being millionaires. Meanwhile, citizens in Russia have been protesting the aggression in Ukraine since the beginning, with Putin’s police arresting everyone from children to the elderly. Putin’s lost support all around the world, even within his own country. Perhaps that’s why he can’t even sit close to his “close” advisers.

Vladimir’s Putin’s attack on Ukraine continues, but he’s rapidly losing support. Part of that comes from sanctions, both from governments and businesses. Companies in Russia need the outside world, and its citizens, too, want products and services they can only get from outside of Russia. Perhaps with support for Putin’s aggression at a low, this bloody conflict can come to an end soon.

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