Russia 🇷🇺 Fines Google $365 Million Over Prohibited 🚫 YouTube Content
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Russia 🇷🇺 Fines Google $365 Million Over Prohibited 🚫 YouTube Content
A Russian court has fined Google $365 million (21 billion rubles) for failing to remove prohibited content that goes against the country’s laws.
Roskomnadzor, the country’s telecommunications regulator, said that YouTube failed to remove “prohibited content,” including “fake content about the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation.”
The agency also said that the video streaming platform promoted extremist views and told people to protest. The fine imposed on Google is based on its annual revenue in Russia, but it has not yet been clarified if Google intends to pay the fine.
While Google filed for bankruptcy in Russia last month, its services like Search and Maps remain available in the country.
The tech giant has pulled advertising from Russia, cutting ad revenue from YouTube and other services.
Google also suspended billing on the Play Store and its mobile app store and is no longer accepting Cloud customers in the country.
Snapchat Finally Comes to The Web 🌐
Popular photo and messaging app Snapchat is introducing the web version of its app, allowing users to chat, snap, and video call from their computers.
“Today, we’re introducing Snapchat for Web, a new way for our community to stay connected through our camera when they’re at their computers,” the company said in a blog post.
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, said that the feature will be available exclusively to Snapchat+ subscribers and will start with subscribers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Snapchat for Web will also allow users to take advantage of messaging features available on mobile, including chat reactions. The company says it plans to bring its Lenses feature to video calls in the future.
To access Snapchat for Web, users must head to the Snapchat website and log in with their Snapchat user credentials.
From there, they will be prompted to complete two-step verification on their phone by default.
Once they open Snapchat for Web, they can continue their conversations from where they left them on mobile.
Coinbase Secures Regulatory Approval in Italy 🇮🇹
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has secured approval from Italian regulators to provide ongoing crypto services to its users in the country.
“By meeting the regulatory requirements, Coinbase will continue to offer crypto services in Italy and has a clear path to bring new products and features to market in the country,” the cryptocurrency exchange said in a blog post.
While Coinbase started providing its services in Italy in June 2019, it has now received regulatory approval.
The company said it had become one of the first crypto firms to meet the new requirements of Italian regulators, which mandate all crypto-related firms servicing customers in the country to secure regulatory approval.
With the latest milestone, Coinbase will further strengthen its foothold in the European market. Earlier this month, the crypto exchange said that it intends to get regulatory nods in more European countries.
Coinbase currently holds operational licenses in Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom, & Italy, and it is looking to seek regulatory compliance in France, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
Global Talent Platform HireArt Raises $26.5 Million 💰
HireArt, the all-in-one platform to hire & manage your entire contract workforce, has raised $26.5 million in its Series B funding round.
The funding was led by Three Fish Capital, along with participation from over a “half dozen” angel investors.
Founded in 2012 by Chris Brower, Chris Forbes, Nick Sedlet, and Phil Uhde, HireArt is the single all-in-one tool to hire, employ, and manage your contract workforce.
The platform curates the best available W2 contractors from the top staffing firms, job boards, & its own direct pool of highly-vetted talent.
HireArt’s technology onboards new hires in minutes and uses an intuitive UI for employers and employees alike, streamlining access to W-2s, timesheets, expenses, and more. Companies like Toyota Research Institute, Via, and Didi use the platform’s services.
HireArt plans to use the fresh capital towards product development and more than double its 82-person headcount within the next year.
Around the Web 🌐
Gbike Acquires Micromobility Platform ZET: South Korea-based micromobility Gcooter operator Gbike is acquiring Hyundai Motor’s shared micromobility platform ZET to increase its market share and create technological synergies. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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