A court in Moscow has ruled that Google, through its YouTube platform, broke Russian law by revealing personal information about Russian soldiers who died in Ukraine, according to state news agency TASS.
The video in question allegedly showed details about military losses in Ukraine, including the names and personal data of fallen servicemen — something Russian authorities say is strictly prohibited.
This ruling is part of an ongoing clash between Russia and foreign tech companies. For years, the Russian government has pushed platforms like YouTube to delete content it deems false or harmful, especially when it comes to the war in Ukraine. When companies don’t comply, Russian courts often respond with fines or legal pressure.
In this latest case, the court did not specify what penalties Google might face, but similar past rulings have resulted in monetary fines and tighter restrictions on tech operations within the country.
Google has not yet commented on the ruling.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has frequently criticized Western tech companies. Back in December, he accused Google of acting as a tool of the U.S. government, then led by President Joe Biden, and using its platform for political gain.
This latest court decision shows how seriously the Russian government is taking control over information related to the ongoing war.
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The Kremlin has made it clear it wants to be the sole narrator of the war’s toll — both to avoid public backlash and maintain control over national sentiment.
For now, it’s unclear if this ruling will affect YouTube’s availability in Russia, but it does put more pressure on tech giants to either comply with local laws or risk being shut out of one of the world’s largest internet markets.
