Google has announced it is expanding security measures to help protect Ukrainian users and websites amid the Russian invasion of the country.
Kent Walker, the company’s President of Global Affairs, said in a blog post that the company has launched an SOS alert on Search across Ukraine to inform people seeking refuge and evacuation information about United Nations resources for refugees and asylum seekers.
Google has also temporarily disabled some live Google Maps features in Ukraine, including the traffic layer and information about how busy places are, to help protect the safety of local communities and their citizens.
The tech giant said it also increased Google account security protections, including more frequent authentication challenges for people in Ukraine, and began to block YouTube channels connected to RT and Sputnik Russian-funded state media across Europe.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional actions as needed – and we join the international community in expressing sincere hope for a return to a peaceful and sovereign Ukraine,” Kent Walker said.
Cybersecurity Help’s statement on the critical situation in Ukraine
On February 24, people in many cities and towns across Ukraine woke up to the sounds of explosions and artillery fire, as the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of the country. Such actions are unacceptable, political ambitions of any man aren’t worth of blood, tears, and destruction of millions of lives. We give our full support to the Ukrainian people in these hard times. No more war!