On Tuesday, 20-06-2023, a Moscow court penalized Telegram and Viber for failing to delete illegal content, especially about the Ukraine war, Interfax reported.
Interfax reported that Dubai-based Telegram was fined 4 million roubles ($47,525) while Viber, a Japanese company, was fined 1 million.
Telegram, established by Russian twins Pavel and Nikolai Durov in 2013, is used daily by the Kremlin, defense ministry, journalists, opposition figures, rights groups, and millions of Russians.
TASS fined Telegram for refusing to remove 32 channels spreading misleading information about Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
After its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, Russia has cracked down on media and bloggers “discrediting” its armed forces or posting incorrect information about them.
It has fined Google, Twitter, Meta’s (META.O) Facebook and Instagram, and this month, WhatsApp.
TASS said the same Moscow court investigated Apple (AAPL.O) for failing to erase illegal content.
On Tuesday, Moscow’s Tagansky court fined Wikimedia Foundation 1.5 million roubles.
Interfax said that officials asked Wikipedia to remove a video on train surfing, a dangerous and unlawful practice.
Comment Template