Russia threatens Facebook with a huge fine | Business



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Russia’s media regulator Roskomnadzor has announced a new protocol to punish the US social media giant for failing to remove “dangerous to citizens” information from Facebook and Instagram.

The fine is said to be “5 to 10 percent” of Facebook’s “annual income”, but it is not stated whether it would be income in Russia or worldwide.

According to the business daily Vedomosti, Facebook earns tens of billions of rubles a year in Russia.

Roskomnadzor said the court would decide when to schedule the hearing.

“The court will also determine the exact amount of the fine,” Roskomnadzor said in a statement.

Russia regularly takes legal action against online platforms that do not remove what it claims to be illegal content, such as pornographic material or records that favor drugs and suicide.

The country has already allocated $ 90 million to Facebook. rubles (0.86 million euros) various fines, including the removal of prohibited content, according to Russian news agencies.

This year, Russia is also seeking stricter controls on US-based tech companies, accusing them of interfering in the country’s internal affairs.

In January, Russia demanded that social media remove records urging Russians to participate in protests by supporters of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navaln, ostensibly to prevent minors from participating.

In January, President Vladimir Putin complained about the growing influence of high-tech companies. According to him, these companies compete with sovereign states.

Last month, Russian authorities accused American social media companies of interfering in the parliamentary elections and summoned an American ambassador to Moscow.



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