NETFLIX and Spotify joined a growing list of companies who are leaving the Russian market after the nation invaded Ukraine.
Spotify on Wednesday said that it’s planning to close down its office in Russia “indefinitely,” according to a new statement released by the company.
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The streaming service giant made the decision in direct response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, which left them “deeply shocked and saddened.”
“Our first priority over the past week has been the safety of our employees and to ensure that Spotify continues to serve as an important source of global and regional news at a time when access to information is more important than ever,” the company said.
Spotify noted that while it’s shutting down its operations in Russia, it is not prohibiting access to its service because it believes that ” it’s critically important to try to keep our service operational in Russia to allow for the global flow of information.”
However, the company has removed all content from Russian state-controlled outlets RT and Sputnik – a move that follows in the footsteps of companies such as Google, Meta, and Apple News.
The team at Spotify added that after reviewing thousands of pieces of content, they have also restricted the discoverability of media owned and operated by Russian state-affiliated outlets.
The company emphasized that its current focus is on “providing individual support to our people in the region as well as our global community of Ukrainian employees.”
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Meanwhile, Netflix has halted all future projects and acquisitions from Russia, according to a report by Variety.
A Netflix source close to the matter said the company is currently assessing the impact of recent events, according to Reuters.
The company had four Russian original series in production and post-production that have now been paused.
Netflix joins a number of entertainment companies that have restricted access to film and TV shows in Russia, including Warner Bros, the Cannes Film Festival, and The Walt Disney Company.
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In other news, the creators of a chilling new horror game say that the title is so disturbing they’ve been forced to censor it on PlayStation.
Apple has announced updates to AirTags following claims that the coin-sized tracking devices are being used to stalk people.
And TikTok has announced new rules, banning users who deadname or misgender others.
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