Ukraine crisis highlights Big Tech’s potential to disrupt daily life

The domes of Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia. The West has imposed heavy restrictions and sanctions on Russia to close off its economy from the global financial system, pushing companies to halt sales, cut ties and dump tens of billions of dollars’ worth of investments. — Bloomberg

As Russians lose access to some popular Big Tech products, the Ukraine crisis has highlighted the companies’ mushrooming role in everyday life worldwide – and their potential to disrupt it.

The availability of some Google and Apple products and services in Russia has been cut in recent days as international sanctions imposed on Moscow over last month’s invasion have added to political pressure for the companies to act.