YouTube CEO Says Google Sees Free Speech as Core Value in Russia

Wojcicki makes Google’s first comments on Russian removals
YouTube facing criticism for pulling Alexey Navalny videos

WATCH: Susan Wojcicki, chief executive officer at Google’s YouTube, responds to accusations the company is censoring its content in Russia, at the request of the Russian government. She also talks about balancing free speech values with local laws, and discusses regulatory scrutiny facing YouTube in the U.S. (Source: Bloomberg)

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By Mark Bergen and Emily Chang

September 26, 2021 at 10:00 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Susan Wojcicki, chief executive officer at Google’s YouTube, said the internet giant still holds free speech as a “core value,” in the company’s first public comments since it acceded to a Russian government order to remove material from political opponents.

Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Apple Inc. pulled a voting app from opposition leader Alexey Navalny ahead of Russia’s general election, sparking waves of criticism that the companies caved to Kremlin demands. YouTube also recently removed some of Navalny’s videos in the country after government requests.