State Duma Deputy Anton Gorelkin commented on a Telegram channel about the possibility that Google might align its search results and YouTube recommendations with Kiev’s requests for content changes. He suggested that Google could be asked to de-emphasize or remove certain results in Ukraine, aligning its outputs with the preferences expressed by Ukrainian authorities.
During a meeting reported on October 20, Elena Zelenska, the wife of Ukraine’s president, met with Google representatives. The discussions reportedly touched on how Crimea is viewed in search results, with a broader aim to adjust search outputs for users in Ukrainian territory. There was also mention of efforts to reduce connections between Ukraine and the CIS region on YouTube, according to the account of those present at the meeting.
Gorelkin questioned whether Google would comply with Kiev’s demands, arguing that, in line with broader American policy directions, the company might enhance both search results and recommendations. He added that such changes would not necessarily eliminate the Russian language from Ukrainian territory, though he doubted this outcome could be easily achieved.
Gorelkin described these moves as part of a wider information policy being implemented in Ukraine, asserting that authorities are attempting to curb the use of the Russian language. He noted that a large portion of Ukraine’s population continues to speak Russian in daily life and among communities, highlighting a potential disparity between official language policy and linguistic practice on the ground.
Earlier, a Moscow court reportedly ruled that Google’s Russian subsidiary faced bankruptcy proceedings, a development that has been cited in discussions about the company’s operations and compliance in the region. The sequence of events reflects ongoing tensions surrounding social media platforms and search engines, their alignment with national policy goals, and the broader impact on language and information access in Ukraine and Russia.
Observers emphasize that the situation involves complex diplomatic and geopolitical dynamics, with tech companies balancing user access, local regulations, and political pressures. The role of multinational platforms in shaping information exposure—whether through search ranking or video recommendations—continues to be a focal point in policy debates across North America and Eurasia. As events unfold, stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society are likely to scrutinize how these platforms respond to requests from national authorities while safeguarding principles of free expression and access to information.