Google will help disseminate air-raid sirens that the Ukrainian government activates in the run-up to bombings by also giving the alarms on Android phones in the country. According to the company, the system is being deployed at the request of the Ukrainian government.
It is not known exactly what the notification system looks like or sounds like. In a blog post from Google, in which the company lists the measures it has already taken in response to the war in Ukraine, it is explained that the notification system is based on the already existing air-raid sirens that the Ukrainian government activates when there is a risk of bombing. Google therefore does not seem to provide its own data. The company says that this notification system is an additional system to the official air raid sirens in the country.
Earlier it was announced that Russian users can no longer make payments in Google’s Play Store. This means that subscriptions that have been taken out via the Play Store and that have expired can no longer be extended for the time being. Russians are also no longer able to buy new apps or games from the Play Store or make in-app payments. Free apps and games will remain available.