A Moscow court has found Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), guilty of disclosing personal data of Russian servicemen killed in Ukraine, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
The case centers on a YouTube video allegedly revealing both the number of Russian military casualties in Ukraine and the personal details of the deceased. The court ruled that this constitutes a breach of Russian laws concerning personal data and wartime censorship.
Russia has intensified its efforts to control online content since the start of the Ukraine conflict, demanding that foreign tech companies remove what it labels as false or illegal information. Platforms like YouTube, owned by Google, have faced mounting pressure, with Russian authorities imposing recurring fines for non-compliance. These fines, though typically small, are part of a broader crackdown on digital information flows that contradict the Kremlin’s narrative.
Google has not yet responded to media requests for comment on the ruling, which comes amid longstanding tensions between the Russian government and U.S. tech firms. In December, President Vladimir Putin accused Google of acting as a political tool of the U.S. government under then-President Joe Biden, further fueling distrust.
The latest ruling underscores the growing friction between Russia and global tech giants over content regulation, data privacy, and geopolitical tensions tied to the ongoing war in Ukraine. As Russia continues to enforce strict information control, international digital platforms are navigating an increasingly hostile regulatory landscape.