Google to demonetise content favouring the war

In a bid to control disinformation and floating propaganda in the garb of content on news and related digital media platforms, Alphabet-owned-Google will not help websites, apps and Youtube channels that it deems exploits, dismisses or condones the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Explaining the steps taken to demonetise false, fake or exploitative content on Russia-Ukraine war, Google also apprised about actions taken so far by enforcing on claims related to the war in Ukraine when anyone violated existing policies of Google regarding the same, for instance, Google prohibits monetisation of dangerous or derogatory content that incites violence or denies tragic events.

Google, whose advertising software and algorithm help publishers generate revenue, bars ads from appearing next to content exploitatively in nature.

Google, in the emails sent to its publishers, also stated, "Publishers, in one way or another, who try to imply that victims are responsible for their own tragedy or similar instances of victim-blaming, such as claims that Ukraine is committing genocide or deliberately attacking its own citizens, their content will be demonetised."

Google also bars ads that capitalise on sensitive events and has applied that policy to the war.

Many major western advertising and social media services have announced new content and payment restrictions around the conflict, including blocking Russian state media RT and Sputnik in the European Union.

How this will impact content publishers and platforms in India needs to be seen.