
Big tech and hackers have entered the fray in the ongoing Ukraine and Russia conflict.
By, Trevor Brown
YouTube “barred” the State owned media outlet Russia Today (RT) and some others from earning ads regarding the current Russia and Ukraine conflict on Saturday. VOA reports that YouTube had cited “extraordinary circumstances” regarding this decision. Additionally YouTube said that they would be, “limiting recommendations to those channels and is blocking them entirely in Ukraine at the request of the Ukrainian government” as reported by a YouTube spokesperson who gave comment to NPR. Facebook, Google, Instagram, and twitter have also made similar decisions on Sunday regarding ads. Google said that they were “pausing” Russian state-funded media to earn money through ads.
Various hacking groups are “taking sides” regarding the conflict. The Anonymous collective joined the cause claiming they are “officially in cyber war against the Russian government”. Various Trojan groups and ransomware groups have also picked sides. Some siding with Russia and some siding with Ukraine.