Google and Facebook are hiring public policy managers to advise them in Russia

The U.S. Internet giants Google and Facebook have posted job vacancies for public policy and government relations managers to advise the companies on operations in Russia. The website TJournal drew attention to the announcements on June 8, Thursday evening. 

Google’s Public Policy and Government Relations Manager position (based in Moscow)

According to Google’s job listing, the new manager will “work with a cross-functional team of Google employees in Russia, as well as with a closely-coordinated global public policy team to advance policy positions that benefit our users and an open Internet more generally.”

Facebook’s Russia Public Policy Manager position (based in Warsaw)

Facebook is looking for “a superb policy communicator who can combine a passion for Internet services like Facebook with a deep knowledge of the political and regulatory dynamics in Russia.” The manager will also “monitor legislation and regulatory matters affecting Facebook in Russia“ and “advise the company with respect to policy challenges.”

In recent years, the Russian government has worked to strengthen control over the Internet, particularly when it comes to social networks, search engines, and news aggregation. So far, Facebook and Google have avoided any crippling demands from government censors in Russia, but the companies’ move to hire managers dedicated to tailoring their policies in the country could indicate that they expect regulators in Moscow to take a more hands-on approach in the future.

In April 2017, Google reached a settlement with Russia’s Antimonopoly Service in an antitrust case brought by Russian search engine rival Yandex. Google agreed to pay a $7.8-million fine for violating local rules on competition. The company will also no longer demand exclusivity of its applications on Android devices in Russia, and it will not restrict the pre-installation of any competing search engines and applications.