Google Shuts Down AdSense Accounts in Russia

On August 12, Google revealed that it will deactivate all AdSense accounts based in Russia, ceasing payments to users of its advertising service in the country. The company attributed this decision to “ongoing developments in Russia,” with the change taking effect in August 2024.

Consequently, Russian users will no longer have access to AdSense, a platform that enables website and content owners, including YouTube creators, to generate revenue through Google-managed ad placements.

According to Reuters, Google’s move comes after a recent slowdown in YouTube’s performance in Russia. This has drawn criticism from Russian lawmakers. They argue that the slowdown is due to Google’s failure to upgrade its infrastructure in the country since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, Google disputes this claim, suggesting other factors might be at play.

Reuters reports that Russian officials have expressed frustration with Google’s stance, which includes blocking more than 1,000 YouTube channels and over 5.5 million videos, especially those related to the Ukraine conflict. The company had previously stopped serving ads in Russia in March 2022 and paused monetization of content that either exploited or condoned the war.

According to a message from Google reviewed by Reuters, creators based in Russia will receive their final payouts this month. Google stated that payments will be processed between August 21 and 26. This is contingent on users having no active payment holds and meeting the minimum payment thresholds.

Reuters points out that this action follows recent Russian legislation banning advertising on content produced by “foreign agents.” According to The Moscow Times, this category includes journalists, bloggers, news websites, and social media pages, all of which are prohibited from advertising their own products and services through businesses.

Google’s decision to suspend AdSense is seen by some—as reported by Reuters—as a continuation of its broader strategy to comply with Western sanctions and policies.