14 Jul 2022 10:35

Search engines to inform users about Twitch's violations of Russian laws - Roskomnadzor

MOSCOW. July 14 (Interfax) - The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has taken coercive measures against Twitch over the refusal to remove content prohibited in Russia: search engines will notify users that the company is in violation of Russian laws. It has also drawn up an administrative motion over fake information spread by Twitch with regard to operations of the Russian Armed Forces, which may lead to a fine of up to four million rubles.

"Due to the failure of the U.S. IT company Twitch Interactive, Inc. to comply with the duty of removal of illegal information, Roskomnadzor has decided to take coercive measures, i.e. search engines' notification of users that this foreign entity is in violation of Russian laws," the service said.

The informative measures against Twitch will be in effect until the foreign entity fully complies with Russian laws.

"In addition, Roskomnadzor has drafted an administrative motion against the Twitch steaming platform under Part 2 Article 13.41 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses over the failure to remove prohibited information, fakes about the special military operation conducted by the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine," Roskomnadzor said.

The Russian Code of Administrative Offenses penalizes such offenses with a fine of up to 4 million rubles.