Google would have accepted the Russia’s new policy that punishes those who use the word “war” to refer to the invasion in Ukraine. According to The Interceptthe technology company informed its translators that should use the phrase “extraordinary circumstances” to talk about the war in texts in Russian.
Those in Mountain View sent an email to their contractors warning that lThe changes would only apply to Russia. While the rest of the world can read the word war, the Russian-language documentation for Gmail, Google Maps and other Google products prefers to omit it.
The decision coincides with the application of a new law prohibiting the dissemination of false information about the Russian army. The Russian Parliament approved in early March a law to control the narrative in the Ukraine war. The word “war” was left out of the dictionary of the media, who use “military offensive” or “military intervention.”
In Google’s case, the supporting documents for its apps use “Ukraine emergency” or “extraordinary circumstances” to refer to the Russian invasion.
On the AdWords page of the Help Center, notice is given of the suspension of advertising in state-controlled media. When translated into Spanish it reads:
Due to extraordinary circumstances in Ukrainewe will suspend ads that contain content that exploits, denies or justifies these extraordinary circumstances.
The Russian Help Center has multiple pages that apply the policy of censorship.
In light of current events that require special attention (emergency in Ukraine), we suspend advertisements placed by or for the media sponsored by the authorities of the Russian Federation. This change takes effect immediately.
The technology protects itself from the new censorship law in Russia
Unlike other companies that left Russia during the first weeks of the invasion, Google maintains its offices in the country. After the wave of economic sanctions, the company applied measures to prevent advertising in state-controlled media, such as RT or Sputnik, and blocked their access worldwide.
In contrast, those in Mountain View have had to adhere to the new censorship law approved by the Kremlin. According to Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of that country, “the public dissemination of falsehoods about the use of the Russian armed forces contemplates penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine of 1.5 million rubles“.
If the Government of Vladimir Putin considers that the information generates serious effects, the sanction can be extended to 10 or 15 years in prison.