Russia Targets Twitter for Allowing 'Banned Content,' Including Adult

Russia Targets Twitter for Allowing 'Banned Content,' Including Adult

MOSCOW — The Russian government’s internet regulatory agency, Roskomnadzor, has announced it will be slowing down Twitter service in the country, alleging that the platform has “ignored requests to take down material harmful to children,” including adult content.

Regional experts, however, are skeptical of the excuse and place the throttling of Twitter — and a threat to ban it altogether — in the context of President Vladimir Putin’ attempts to control the influence of foreign-owned social media over Russian public opinion.

“Social media companies, regardless of country of origin, are coming under increasing scrutiny by the Kremlin, which views them as rivals to the dominant state-run news outlets,” NPR reported today.

In January, Roskomnadzor announced social media — including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Russia's VKontakte — would face fines “for inciting minors to take part in unauthorized rallies demanding the release of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny.”

The head of Navalny's Moscow office, NPR reported, “tweeted that the Twitter slowdown was just the start of a large-scale offensive by authorities to assert control over — and ultimately block — social media.”

A member of the committee on informational policy in the Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, boasted that the attack on Twitter should “serve as an example to all the others who don't observe Russian legislation.”

A 'Moral' Excuse for Political Censorship

Like many American crusaders against Section 230 protections, the Russian censorship body Roskomnadzor claims this attack on free expression has as its goal to “save the children.”

Roskomnadzor claims that “since 2017, Twitter disregarded more than 28,000 requests to delete content that encourages minors to commit suicide, contains child pornography or provides information on drug use.”

Roskomnadzor claimed that their flagging adult content is not inconsistent with free speech since it “is not permitted under the company's rules.”

Twitter has exercised a controversial “toleration policy” to legal adult content, by which its explicit prohibition under the terms of services is not actively enforced.

According to NPR, the Kremlin “has repeatedly used the protection of minors as a pretext to limit free expression. At a meeting with young people last week, Putin said that tech companies had to follow the ‘moral laws of our society’ — or Russian society would collapse.”

Putin closed 2020 by signing a comprehensive censorship law that would allow for sweeping actions under supposed “moral grounds.”

Main Image: Official oil portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

Skinfluential Management's FansFuel Acquires Fanwire

FansFuel has acquired creator account management tool Fanwire.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay its recent decision upholding the law, because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s new age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

Show More