Russia Fines Twitter For Failing To Delete Banned Content

On Thursday, a Moscow court announced it had fined social media giant Twitter 3 million roubles for failing to take down content that is deemed illegal in Russia. The fine comes as part of a long string of penalties against foreign technology firms operating in the country.

Moscow has ramped up pressure on big tech firms this year in a campaign that critics view as an attempt by Russian authorities to exert tighter control over the internet, which they believe threatens to stifle both individual and corporate freedom.

The Moscow Tagansky District Court said it had fined Twitter 3 million roubles — equivalent to approximately $40,000 —  for failing to delete banned content.

Microsoft-owned software development website GitHub has also been fined 1 million roubles for failing to take down illegal content and, earlier in the month, Alphabet’s Google was fined 9 million roubles for the same offence. 

Twitter has denied allowing its platform to be used to promote illegal content in the country.