RUSSIA WARNS GOOGLE AGAINST ELECTION ‘MEDDLING’

THE HINDU,05TH SEPTEMBER, 2018Russia on Tuesday said it has officially warned U.S. internet giant Google against “meddling” in next Sunday’s local elections by hosting opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s videos calling for mass protests.

Representatives of Russia’s electoral commission, the Prosecutor-general’s Office and the state internet watchdog at a meeting alleged Navalny uses Google’s services to disseminate illegal information and warned that the company may be prosecuted if it does not act to stop this.

A Google spokeswoman declined to give a specific comment, telling AFP in an emailed statement that the company “reviews all valid requests from government institutions“.

Central Election Commission member Alexander Klyukin said the commission had sent an official letter to Larry Page, the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, regarding Navalny’s use of Youtube.

The fierce Kremlin critic has urged Russians to protest on September 9, when several Russian regions and Moscow elect regional and local officials.

Navalny is currently serving a 30-day sentence for violating public order laws during a protest earlier this year.russia on Tuesday said it has officially warned U.S. internet giant Google against “meddling” in next Sunday’s local elections by hosting opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s videos calling for mass protests.