16 Mar 2023 19:45

Roskomnadzor unblocks access to Last.fm in Russia

MOSCOW. March 16 (Interfax) - Russia's telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor has unblocked the Last.fm music service after it deleted content banned in Russia, the agency said in a statement.

"Roskomnadzor specialists verified information that illegal content was deleted. The blocking was lifted, and the last.fm website and mobile apps are available for Russian users again," the statement said.

It emerged on March 9 that Last.fm was blocked in Russia. On March 10, Roskomnadzor said that the access to the website of the service and its mobile app was blocked in Russia after it had ignored three demands that content banned in Russia be blocked.

Roskomnadzor has sent the U.S. music service Last.fm three demands to delete "materials containing false information of public significance, and also discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" since January 2023, Roskomnadzor said on March 10.

"After restrictions were imposed, the administration of the website promptly deleted illegal content," Roskomnadzor said on Thursday.

The site Last.fm has been blocked in Russia before: in 2015 and twice in 2019 due to music compositions recognized as extremist in Russia.

The music site Last.fm started working in March 2002. It contains an extensive database on musicians, albums and compositions, and also makes it possible to listen to compositions. It makes general and individual charts of tracks based on users' preferences. It has belonged to the company CBS Interactive since 2007.