Google disables AdSense accounts in Russia
Google has announced the deactivation of AdSense accounts in Russia starting from August 2024, citing the inability to process payments to users of its advertising service in the country. This decision will affect website and content owners, including those on YouTube, who continue to monetize traffic from outside of Russia.
According to a Google spokesperson, this is due to "ongoing developments in Russia." The company has already sent notifications to its remaining users in Russia, informing them that their July earnings will be paid out at the end of August, provided all conditions are met.
The reasons for this move were not specified, but it is likely related to the strained relations between Russia and Western companies.
The slowdown of YouTube in Russia, noted in recent weeks, has been attributed by Russian lawmakers to Google's refusal to upgrade its equipment in the country since 2022. Google, however, denies these allegations.
The company has been under pressure in Russia for a long time, particularly for its refusal to remove content that Moscow considers illegal. Despite this, YouTube has remained one of the few platforms for free expression in the country. However, with a new law banning advertising on channels labeled as "foreign agents," monetization has become impossible for many Russian users.
This decision by Google underscores Russia's further isolation from the global digital space and complicates matters for Russian users who have been trying to maintain access to international monetization opportunities.
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