Moscow | The Russian authorities announced Wednesday “to slow down” the functioning of Twitter in the country, accusing the American social network of refusing to remove publications deemed “illegal” on drugs, suicide and child pornography.
Moscow has increased criticism of social networks in recent weeks and their omnipotence regarding the moderation of content, especially political. But Twitter is not immediately pinned for such posts.
“In order to protect Russian citizens and to force the internet service to comply with Russian legislation, centralized response measures were taken against Twitter from March 10, 2021, namely the slowdown in speed service, ”Russian internet and media policeman Roskomnadzor said in a statement.
“The slowdown will be implemented on 100% of mobile devices and 50% of fixed devices,” said this body which has the power to block Internet sites or resources in Russia.
The Russian authorities accuse Twitter of not having removed content “which incites minors to commit suicide, containing child pornography, as well as information on drug use”, according to the statement.
Roskomnadzor assured to have sent “more than 28,000 initial and repeated removal requests for links and illegal publications” to the American firm since 2017, without effect.
Roskomnadzor criticizes Twitter in particular for not having reacted to “calls for minors to commit mass suicide on March 3, 2021”.
“If Twitter continues to ignore the requirements of the law, the aftershocks will continue in accordance with the regulations and can go as far as blocking”, continues the Russian gendarme.
The Russian authorities have for weeks had their sights set on several other social networks, including Facebook, YouTube and the Chinese Tik Tok, accused of having released illegal publications in support of the jailed opponent Alexei Navalny.
Calls to demonstrate were then broadcast in January on these sites.