Google News blocked in Russia as feud with mercenary leader intensifies

Several Russian internet providers are preventing users in the country from accessing Google News after Russian generals accused a mercenary leader, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, of carrying out a coup.

At least five telecommunications companies — including Rostelecom, U-LAN and Telplus — have blocked Google News, which aggregates news from a variety of sources, according to an analysis by NetBlocks, an internet observatory. Several other ISPs have also started reducing access, according to the analysis.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Late Friday, Russian officials accused Mr. Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a mercenary organization, of trying to stage a coup against President Vladimir V. Putin, with Russian authorities opening an investigation into Mr. Prigozhin for “organizing an armed uprising”. .”

Russia’s internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, said in March 2022 it would block Google News from the country’s internet users after the company paused ads in Russia and took steps to block online content spreading false information to promote Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to support.

Roskomnadzor is part of a larger tech apparatus that Mr. Putin has built over the years to exert control through technology channels. In addition to strict surveillance of the Russian internet, authorities also operate a domestic spy system that intercepts phone calls and internet traffic, spreads online disinformation campaigns, and hacks other countries’ government systems.

After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, many Western technology companies withdrew their services and products from Russia or were blocked. TikTok and Netflix have suspended their services in the country. Facebook was blocked. Twitter was partially blocked and Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco and others withdrew or withdrew altogether.