Russia Fines Google Over YouTube Video Instructing Soldiers How to Surrender

A Russian court has fined Google $41,530 for hosting YouTube content that included videos instructing Russian soldiers on how to surrender, the Russian state news agency TASS reported on February 17.

The Kremlin denies this, attributing the disruptions to Google's alleged failure to upgrade its infrastructure, a claim disputed by the company and technology experts. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russian authorities have been accused of intentionally slowing YouTube’s download speeds to limit access to content critical of leader Vladimir Putin and his government. The Kremlin denies this, attributing the disruptions to Google's alleged failure to upgrade its infrastructure, a claim the company and technology experts dispute.

In December, Putin accused Google of serving as a tool for the US government to advance political interests.

Earlier, it was reported that the Russian government intensified online military recruitment efforts in 2024, with the Ministry of Digital Development generating over a billion impressions through Yandex’s ad network.