MOSCOW: Russia’s court on Friday fined social network TikTok $28,930 for failing to adhere to national regulations on content distribution.
Moscow courts’ press service, confirmed that the penalty was handed down on 27 December 2024, although no specific details regarding the breach were revealed.
It may be recalled that in a similar case in 2022, TikTok was imposed a fine for allegedly failing to remove material promoting objectionable content, as per Russian regulators’ complaints.
In recent years, Russia has tightened its grip on the digital sector. The implementation of the Sovereign Internet Law in 2019 gave authorities more control over domestic internet activity.
Reports view these actions as a gateway to increased censorship and surveillance under cybersecurity.
In September 2024, the Russian government announced an investment of around $660 million to enhance its online censorship framework.
Managed by Roskomnadzor, the system employs sophisticated tools to filter and control internet traffic.
TikTok attracts young people with its never-ending scroll of ultra-brief videos and has more than one billion active users worldwide.
The platform has also faced accusations of espionage in the United States and is under investigation by the European Union over claims it was used to sway Romania’s presidential election in favour of a far-right candidate.
The platform has been banned for use by personnel in state institutions in several countries.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced last week that the government will shut down TikTok for at least a year starting at the beginning of 2025. During a meeting in Tirana with Albanian teachers, parents, and psychologists Rama said that “TikTok is the thug of the neighbourhood”.
