TikTok, owned by ByteDance, was fined 3 million (roughly Rs. 41,50,000) by a Russian court over the social media platform''s refusal to delete information, which Russian authorities claim violates laws against spreading "LGBT propaganda."
The case against TikTok was based on allegations that the company was "promoting non-traditional values, LGBT, feministity, and a distorted representation of traditional sexual values," according to news agencies.
Russia is contemplating expanding its current "gay propaganda" program, which prohibited anyone or entity from engaging in homosexual relationships to children. Lawmakers have argued that the program should be expanded to include adults as well as fines for exposing minors to "LGBT propaganda."
TikTok was found guilty of an administrative offence for failing to remove prohibited content and did not respond to a request for information immediately.
Interfax claims that a TikTok employee in the courtroom had demanded that the proceedings be terminated, without providing further details.
The fine represents Moscow''s most recent settlement with Big Tech, which includes fines for content, demands for data storage, and some outrageous penalties, which are hampered by Western companies'' influence and reach.
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Russian authorities fear they are protecting morality in the face of what they argue are un-Russian liberal values promoted by the West, but human rights organizations believe the law has been widely used to intimidate Russia''s LGBT population.
Thomson Reuters in 2022