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US tech giants ignore demands to end censorship of Russian media, says watchdog

According to the watchdog, Google (YouTube), Facebook and Twitter are restricting access to the materials of about 20 Russian media outlets, including RIA Novosti, Russia Today, Sputnik and Rossiya-1

Google headquarters in Mountain View, US AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File

Google headquarters in Mountain View, US

© AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File

MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. US-based tech corporations are shrugging off demands to discontinue their censorship of Russian media, Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media stated on Tuesday.

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Google remains tight-lipped after blocking YouTube channels of Russian news outlets

"The censorship of Russian media by foreign tech companies has become systemic. <…> [Their] attempts seek to control Russian media from abroad and block Russian nationals from getting objective information. Numerous demands to terminate this censorship of Russian media are being ignored," the message says.

According to the watchdog, Google (YouTube), Facebook and Twitter are restricting access to the materials of about 20 Russian media outlets, including RIA Novosti, Russia Today, Sputnik and Rossiya-1.

Proposals for timely and effective counter measures have been forwarded to the Russian State Duma (parliament's lower house) and the Federation Council (upper house) for consideration, the watchdog reported.

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