TikTok Fined 2.6 Million Rubles By Moscow Court

According to Russian media reports, a Moscow court recently ordered the video-sharing app TikTok to pay a fine after failing to remove content related to illegal protests.

The court press secretary confirmed to Russian news agency IFAX that TikTok was told to pay an administrative fine of 2.6 million rubles (approximately $34,000).

The court ruled that TikTok committed a crime by failing to remove content that violated Russian law. It is understood that TikTok users are posting videos calling on young people to join protests in support of arrested Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent in August last year and received treatment in Germany for several months. He returned to Russia from Germany on January 17 and was ordered detained at a hearing the next day, a move that sparked widespread anger and street protests.

Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor described calls for protests on various social media platforms as "inciting teenagers" to participate in "illegal activities" and "unauthorized mass events".

"Law enforcement agencies will respond immediately to violations to suppress alleged unauthorized actions," the Moscow Metropolitan Police said in a statement. In its statement, it also condemned the "media, internet and social networks" for organizing the demonstrations.

TikTok is not the only social media platform to be embroiled in protests. Earlier, Russian media regulators claimed that Twitter posed a threat to Russian citizens and would slow down online access to Twitter.

It is understood that the slowdown in Twitter's service will only affect images and videos, not text. The regulator also confirmed that the measures will remain in place until the platform removes all content in the complaint.

In fact, Moscow has been tightening its control over U.S.-based social media platforms to make them comply with Russian law. In December last year, the Russian lower house of parliament passed two bills giving the state greater power to punish companies such as Facebook and Twitter. The bills include the power to fine platforms and allow restrictions.

In response to TikTok's fine, Reuters also stated that the case is one of a series of measures recently taken by Moscow to put pressure on Western Internet companies.