Following Google’s
announcement
last week that the search giant paused Google ads in Russia, the company said today that it has paused “the vast majority of our commercial activities in Russia.”
This includes ads on its properties and networks globally for all Russian-based advertisers, new Cloud sign-ups, the payments functionality for most of its services and monetization features for YouTube viewers in Russia.
Google’s free services such as Search, Gmail and YouTube are still operating in Russia.
The company also announced that, beginning today, hotel owners in countries neighboring Ukraine can indicate on their Business Profile whether they’re offering free or discounted accommodations for refugees.
Local businesses can also post to their Business Profile on Search and Maps to offer various services and aid to refugees from Ukraine.
“As we compile this information over the coming weeks, we’ll make it possible for people to quickly find these places on Search and Maps,” Google said in a statement.
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Google’s updates come as a number of travel and technology companies curtail services in Russia.
Both Expedia Group and Booking Holdings have
stopped selling travel
to and from Russia, while GDSs Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport
have removed fares
from Russian carrier Aeroflot from their systems.
Meanwhile, Airbnb has suspended operations in Russia and Belarus and is offering free short-term hosing for up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Additionally, a grassroots movement has seen people around the world booking properties in Ukraine as a way to send money to hosts.
Airbnb told PhocusWire
it is “closely evaluating” new host applications in Ukraine to prevent fraudulent listings.