Facebook, Twitter Fined by Russia for Not Deleting Banned Content

Russia fined Facebook and Twitter on Tuesday for not deleting banned content material, including to a slew of penalties the federal government has already imposed on international tech giants.

Russia has been tightening controls over US-based tech firms and final week accused them of interfering in parliamentary polls due later this month.

A courtroom in Moscow slapped Facebook with 5 fines on Tuesday totalling RUB 21 million (roughly Rs. 2.12 crores), in keeping with an official Telegram channel.

The identical courtroom fined Twitter RUB 5 million (roughly Rs. 50 lakhs).

Facebook has thus far been fined RUB 90 million (roughly Rs. 9 crores) in Russia and Twitter RUB 45 million (roughly Rs. 4.5 crores), the state-run TASS information company reported.

Russia typically takes authorized motion in opposition to Internet platforms for not deleting content material it labels unlawful, similar to pornographic materials or posts condoning medication and suicide.

The judicial authorities have additionally fined Google citing the identical offences and for failing to retailer the information of Russian customers on home providers.

Nearly all Kremlin critics – together with allies of jailed opposition chief Alexei Navalny – have been barred from operating in parliamentary elections on 17-19 September.

Russia’s international ministry mentioned final week it had summoned the US ambassador in Moscow over US tech giants’ “interference” within the polls.

Russian media regulator Roskomnadzor has blocked dozens of internet sites linked to Navalny, together with a website that instructs Russians how you can vote out politicians of the ruling United Russia celebration.

The media regulator has additionally urged Google and Apple to take away an app devoted to Navalny’s “Smart Voting” marketing campaign from their shops.

The “Smart Voting” tactic led the more and more unpopular United Russia celebration to lose quite a few seats in native elections in 2019.