Russia Blocks Google Ad Acquisition

By Nick Mokey Published October 24, 2008

Russia Blocks Google Ad Acquisition

Google may have broken through American and European governmental opposition to its high-profile mergers in the past, but a new attempt to partner with a Russian company has left the company stymied by Moscow. According to the New York Times, Russia’s antitrust authorities nixed Google’s attempt to acquire online advertising firm Begun on Friday.

The proposed merger would have given Google access to a network with 40,000 advertisers across 143,000 Russian Web sites. The Federal Antimonopoly Service put a stop on the deal, but didn’t provide many details as to why, besides a generic desire to foster competition.

“We are very disappointed to hear that FAS has come to this decision,” Google said in a statement, according to the Times. “We strongly believe that this acquisition will enable us to significantly improve opportunities for Russian users, advertisers and publishers as well as the entire industry.”

Google had previously overcome the scrutiny of both American and European regulators to seal a deal with advertising firm DoubleClick in both respective markets.

Managing Editor

As Digital Trends’ Managing Editor, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team delivering definitive reviews, enlightening…

Smart Home

How to remove an account from Google Smart Lock

A person using WhatsApp Messenger on his Android smartphone.

Google Smart Lock is a fancy bit of engineering that works across a variety of Google and Android platforms. When enabled and properly customized, it lets your devices automatically unlock in a variety of scenarios, such as keeping your phone unlocked when it detects you're at home. Better yet, it allows you to store Chrome browser passwords for easy access, along with a few other cool tricks.

Smart Home

How to use the Google Home app on a computer

Google Home icon on home screen.

Google Home makes it easy to manage all your smart devices through your smartphone or tablet. Giving you access to your camera feeds, smart thermostat, smart lights, and more, Google Home is one of the most popular smart home platforms on the market. But while there's a lot to love about Google Home, it lacks full PC support. However, that's slowly starting to change – here's a look at how to use the Google Home app on your PC and control your devices from a larger display.
Can you use the Google Home app on a PC?
Google Home doesn't have a PC app, but it does have a website. Unfortunately, Google notes that Google Home for web is in Public Preview, meaning not all features are available and you may encounter glitches during use. The website is seeing constant updates, so there's a good chance it'll work just as well as the mobile apps in the future. Be sure to check it out regularly to see what's been added.

There are a few other workarounds you can implement to get Google Home on your PC. Read on to learn about the alternatives.
Use Google Home through your Chromebook

Smart Home

The most common Google Nest Mini problems and how to fix them

A coral Google Nest Mini mounted on a brick wall.

The Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) is one of the best smart speakers of 2024. Despite its low price, the Nest Mini gives you full access to Google Assistant, provides surprisingly great audio for a device its size, and is compact enough to fit nearly anywhere in your home. Whether you want to listen to music, dish out commands to other smart devices, or check the news, the Nest Mini can do it all.

However, the Nest Mini isn't without its faults. Setting up and using the smart speaker is typically a straightforward, hassle-free experience. But like all electronics, some owners have noticed strange issues when performing simple tasks — such as connectivity problems or an unresponsive unit.