Google, the parent company of Alphabet, has been fined RUB 3 million (approximately Rs. 31 lakh) by a Russian court for its failure to delete YouTube videos promoting “LGBT propaganda” and “false information” related to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, as reported by Russian news agencies. This is part of Moscow’s recent efforts to increase control over the content that Russian internet users see online.
Russian Censorship Laws
Following the deployment of troops into Ukraine, Moscow passed strict censorship laws and has since imposed dozens of fines on Western tech companies. In addition, Russia has strengthened its laws against what it calls the “promotion of LGBT propaganda.” Under this law, any action or information that is considered an attempt to promote homosexuality in public, online, or in films, books, or advertising could result in a heavy fine. This has been heavily criticized by independent human rights groups.
Google’s Refusal to Remove Videos
Russian prosecutors accused Google of refusing to remove several videos posted on YouTube, including one from a blogger deemed a “foreign agent” by Moscow about how same-sex couples raise children and about the LGBT community in St. Petersburg, according to TASS news agency. Last year, the Russian subsidiary of Alphabet’s Google filed for bankruptcy after authorities seized its bank accounts following a fine of RUB 7.2 billion roubles (nearly Rs. 767 crore) in December 2021 over what Russian authorities called the company’s “repeated failure” to delete content.
In conclusion, the Russian court’s fine on Google for failing to remove videos promoting “LGBT propaganda” and “false information” highlights the country’s efforts to increase control over online content. The strict censorship laws and laws against “promotion of LGBT propaganda” have been heavily criticized by independent human rights groups. It remains to be seen how this will affect the operations of Western tech companies in Russia going forward.
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