A Russian court has fined Twitter and TikTok for failing to delete content considered illegal by the government, reports Reuters.
Twitter was fined by RUB 19 million, in the latest episode of a long-running dispute between Russia and the social network operator. The company has been subjected to a punitive slowdown in Russia since March, part of a broader stand-off between Moscow and big tech companies to beef up what it calls internet sovereignty.
Russian regulator Roskomnadzor earlier this month partially halted the slowdown after Twitter deleted more than 90 percent of illegal content, which Roskomnadzor says included posts containing child pornography, drug abuse information or calls for minors to commit suicide.
Twitter denies allowing its platform to be used to promote illegal behaviour, and says it has a zero-tolerance policy for child sexual exploitation and prohibits the promotion of suicide or self-harm.
A RUB 1.5 million fine was imposed on TikTok. An additional RUB 3.5 million fine was imposed on Google, adding to the RUB 6 million in fines imposed earlier this week.
