Russian agents are reportedly targeting Google and Apple employees based in the country with prison time.
Agents apparently appeared at the door of a Google executive's home in Moscow and demanded that he remove an app from its Google Play Store at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Washington Post reported.
An Apple representative in Moscow experienced similar threats, sources told the Post.
Google said Thursday that it is now pausing the "vast majority" of commercial activities in Russia after announcing last week that Google ads would be suspended in the country. Russians are no longer be able to sign up for Google Cloud, use Google's payment services, or monetize YouTube channels from views that originate in the country.
Apple took steps to limit its payment service and paused all product sales in Russia last week. Queues for the metro in Moscow were reportedly backed up as Russians could no longer use Apple Pay to swipe into train stations.
I am a patriot that hates what has become of my country!
That tells me that Ukraine is the problem, not Russia or Putin!