Russia Fines Google, Telegram, Pinterest Over Non-Compliant Content
Moscow’s Tagansky court on Wednesday fined Google $87,054 for not removing a chauffeur app, Telegram $43,529 for not removing non-state complaint war messages, and Pinterest $123,715 for not taking down LGBT-related content. The fines follow numerous precedents, with the Kremlin fining Western tech firms for failing to comply with its draconian information laws.
Moscow’s Tagansky court recently imposed fines on three Western tech companies for not complying with Russia's information control demands. Google received a 7.6 million ruble ($87,054) penalty for not removing a UK chauffeur app, Wheely, from its Russian Google Play marketplace. Telegram was fined 3.8 million rubles ($43,527) for failing to remove "fake news about a special military operation and extremist content" from its platform.
Pinterest Europe Limited was fined 10.8 million rubles ($123,709) for not removing LGBT content and "information involving minors in dangerous activities." Russia has a history of fining tech companies, with Google previously receiving a record-breaking $2.5 decillion fine for not reinstating pro-Kremlin accounts on its YouTube subsidiary.
Telegram, a platform founded by a Russian-born tech entrepreneur, has also faced Russian fines and restrictions, including a total ban in April 2024. Despite the ban, Telegram remains widely used in Russia.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
