Shortly Following Russia's Attack On A Ukrainian Hospital, YouTube Pulls Monetization From Russian Accounts

Yesterday, reports came out that Russia, in an escalation of the invasion of Ukraine, had bombed and destroyed a Ukrainian hospital, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stating that three people including a child had been killed in the attack. Shortly after, many social media posts were made directly tagging YouTube and the heads of other prominent websites that still carried Russian channels and advertisements, asking for it to come to an end.

Hey Mark, paraga</a>,<a href="https://twitter.com/sundarpichai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">sundarpichai, SusanWojcicki</a> <br><br>Putin just bombed a children’s hospital, but <a href="https://twitter.com/Facebook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Facebook, instagram</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Twitter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Twitter & @YouTube are still showing Russia's state-run RT

Why are you profiting off Putin's propaganda?!

Remove Russia RT from your platforms NOW! pic.twitter.com/W0wkWKAZpX

— Sacha Baron Cohen (@SachaBaronCohen) March 9, 2022

Employees Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/instagram?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">instagram Google</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">YouTube,

You joined tech to change the world, but your CEOs spread Putin's lies on Russia's RT as he bombs pregnant women

We beg you--tell Mark, paraga</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sundarpichai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">sundarpichai @SusanWojcicki#RemoveRT #StopPutinsLies

The world will thank you! pic.twitter.com/TWjuLqgXJl

— Sacha Baron Cohen (@SachaBaronCohen) March 10, 2022

These calls to action have since been answered by YouTube, and as of today, reports began to circulate that all the features and functions that come with monetization were removed from the Russian side of the site, meaning that several channels who would otherwise be able to make money on the platform are now no longer able to do so.

This move was met with praise by many online today, who saw it as a blow not only against Russia and their disinformation campaigns but also as an increase in mounting pressure against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

YouTube has turned off all features in #Russia that allowed YouTube channel creators to earn money pic.twitter.com/KUZ3ivUveZ

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 9, 2022

Google has now suspended monetization on YouTube for all users in Russia. Applies to other services, as well. That’s a whole creator industry up in smoke. (No way these guys can make up that revenue on Vkontakte and the like.) pic.twitter.com/2EwnDUqc6Q

— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 10, 2022

Not everyone agreed with this approach, however, as shutting down a way for independent people and creators in Russia to receive a paycheck was perceived as an ineffective way to hurt Putin, instead merely causing more harm to the regular population of Russians who depended on YouTube for income.

YouTube after shutting off the last way for content creators to make a livable income in Russia pic.twitter.com/Yi7VHqAip4

— 🇺🇦 🌻 Tan joined the Military Industrial Complex (@PannerTanner) March 10, 2022

maybe its just me but the last thing ukranians need is for other innocent people in russia to also be dying. its all performative. none of the paypal/youtube fund/etc restrictions are affecting or hurting putin in the god damn SLIGHTEST, but it IS hurting minorities.

— marcy 🦭 (@ghostyping) March 9, 2022

This move by YouTube is far from the only one, as more and more sites, brands and services are continuing to lockout Russian users from accessing their platforms in recent weeks.