The list of companies opting to suspend operations in Russia continues to grow amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Netflix being the latest to join that list.
Last week, the streaming service said it was pausing all future projects and acquisitions in Russia. But today the company is taking it a step further by shutting down its service in the country completely. “Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia,” a Netflix spokesperson told ZDNet.
Meanwhile, TikTok has announced that it will suspend all livestreaming and new content on its video service “in light of Russia’s new fake news law”.
Mastercard and Visa suspend operations in Russia
According to Moscow Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law prohibiting the dissemination of information aimed at “discrediting” military forces. This law targets any statement calling the invasion of Ukraine an “invasion”, any attempt to discredit the armed forces or any call for sanctions against Russia. Those convicted of spreading “fake news” face up to 15 years in prison.
“TikTok is an outlet for creativity and entertainment that can be a source of relief and human connection in this time of war when people are facing immense tragedy and isolation. However, the safety of our employees and users remains our top priority,” the company announced in a tweet.
TikTok’s in-app messaging service will not be affected, the company assured. “We will continue to assess developments in Russia to determine when we can fully resume our services, with safety being our top priority,” TikTok added.
Mastercard and Visa also announced on Saturday that they were suspending operations in Russia. Both had previously blocked multiple financial institutions from accessing their respective payment networks, following instructions from regulators around the world.
Under these latest measures, cards issued by Russian banks are no longer supported by the Mastercard or Visa networks. Also, any Mastercard or Visa card issued outside the country will not work at Russian merchants or ATMs. “We are compelled to act after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the unacceptable events we have witnessed,” Al Kelly, Visa’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “We regret the impact this will have on our valued colleagues, as well as the customers, partners, merchants and cardholders we serve in Russia. This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand that we respond in accordance with our values. »
DXC has approximately 4,000 employees in Russia
Additionally, DXC said it was going to pull out of Russia altogether. “Based on the aggression of the Russian government, we no longer continue our activities in Russia and we are committed to leaving this market,” the company said.
The company currently has about 4,000 employees in Russia and said it would support them during this time. “Currently, our number one priority is to take care of our colleagues in the region. Our dedicated team at DXC is working around the clock to provide shelter, financial assistance, healthcare and relocation assistance to our colleagues and their families,” the company said.
DXC said it will also match employee donations to Red Cross humanitarian efforts, which includes direct financial support to affected colleagues.
“We will continue to assess the situation and take necessary action leveraging the strength of our global team to minimize any impact to our DXC colleagues and customers,” the company said.
Source: ZDNet.com