Google engineers to leave Russia
Engineers are headed out of the country as it proposes new Internet laws, but Google says it is still committed to Russian users
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Google is closing its engineering offices in Russia after the country has increased its crackdown on the internet.
New laws that require internet companies to keep all data about Russians inside the country’s borders have led Google to take its engineers from the country and re-locate them elsewhere.
A Google spokesperson told The Independent: “We are deeply committed to our Russian users and customers and we have a dedicated team in Russia working to support them”.
The government’s increasingly tight rules on internet companies — which has led to Google removing about 250 links from its search engine in six-months last year, according to the FT — could mean that other companies will leave the country.
The move comes amid increasing suspicion of Google from authorities across Europe and elsewhere — including yesterday’s withdrawal of Google News from Spain, and the European Union’s repeated votes to break up Google.
But the move isn’t the first time Google has moved engineers out of certain countries, with the same thing happening in Sweden, Finland and Norway as well as in its Austin and Atlanta offices in the US. And Google is expected to continue investing in and targeting the country despite the move.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments