Google

• The Vanced app let users block YouTube ads and brought back the dislike button. Google wasn’t a fan.
• YouTube demonetizes Russia’s state-owned channels, citing “extraordinary circumstances”

  The channels are being treated as borderline content: they haven’t violated YouTube’s policies enough to be removed, but their videos are egregious enough that YouTube is restricting their presence.

  
• Google Cuts Play Store Fees To 15% Of App Subscription Revenues

  Faced with high-profile lawsuits and a proposed bill targeting the fees its Play Store marketplace charges app developers, Google has announced it will lower its cut of recurring subscription revenues from 30% to 15%.

  
• New Bill Aims To Stop Apple, Google From Forcing App Developers To Use Their Payment Systems

  The bill does not mention specific situations that might’ve prompted its drafting, but we’d be remiss not to point out that all three of these proposed rules are core parts of Fortnite developer Epic Games’ ongoing lawsuits against Apple and Google.

  
• Google Will Stop Using People’s Browsing Activity To Serve Them Ads
• Google Is Testing A Search Feature That Exclusively Serves Short Videos From TikTok, Instagram
• Insights: After 2020’s Crucial Role In Our Lives, Social Media Will Face A Far More Critical 2021
• Google CEO Sundar Pichai Talks YouTube Data Privacy At Antitrust Hearing
• Google Search Results Allegedly Promote YouTube Videos Over More Popular Clips From Competitive Platforms
• Trump’s Executive Order Targeting Social Platforms Could Hurt “Internet Freedom,” Google Says
• Google’s Looking To Take On TikTok With Acquisition Of Competitor Firework (Report)
• Google Is Adding The Ability To Search For ‘Key Moments’ Within YouTube Videos