Disinformation is a key theme for tech, media, and telecom (TMT) companies caught in the crossfire as tensions mount between Russia and the West, with Russian businesses already being punished for aiding the spread of disinformation, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

The EU has banned RT and Sputnik, and the UK looks as though it might do the same. Yandex, Russia’s answer to Google, has lost over half its share value following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. These companies are vulnerable to new sanctions imposed on Russia and will be shut out of vital markets in Europe and elsewhere.

Charlotte Newton, Thematic Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Geopolitical tensions will create winners and losers among Russian TMT companies. Companies like Yandex with access to vast troves of information will face pressure to align themselves with the Kremlin. This makes them prime targets for outside regulators who wish to limit the flow of disinformation from Russia, particularly on online forums.

“EU laws on disinformation, coupled with more stringent regulation from the US and the UK, will limit Russian companies’ access to Western markets. In essence, there is currently no winning for Russian companies.”