On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, Russia fined the Meta group, which includes Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Vladimir Putin’s regime blamed the American group Spreading LGBT content against the law “propaganda” Homosexuality prevailing in the country.
This legislation, issued by the President of Russia in 2013, prohibits taking any action. “propaganda” homosexual in front of minors. Federal law takes pride in protecting the youngest from danger. “information harmful to their health and development”. Despite fierce condemnation from the international community, the legislation still applies.
A ridiculous fine for Meta and TikTok
By the decision of Russian justice, Meta will therefore have to paya fine of four million rubles In order not to delete LGBT posts (about 50,200 Euros at current rate). Given the company’s annual turnover, this sanction should not affect the company’s position.
This is not the first time Russia has imposed a sanction on Meta in recent months. Recently, the Kremlin has even banned the group’s two social networks, Facebook and Instagram, from its territory. Evaluating the two platforms as terrorist and extremist organizations, Moscow banned its use in Russia. The regime resented Meta’s refusal to remove posts showing the truth about the war in Ukraine. This ban was also issued after Russian media were removed from Facebook.
At the same time, a Moscow court TikTok fined its platform, the subsidiary of the Chinese group ByteDance and the favorite social network for 18-25 year olds. Again, Russia believes the app is spreading LGBT content that violates Russian laws to protect children. The Chinese group will have to pay a fine of two million rubles, or about 25,000 euros. Again, this sanction is unlikely to shake the leaders.
