Moscow (AFP)
Russian authorities said on Monday that they would continue to slow down Twitter in the country, accusing it of not having removed all content deemed illegal and threatening Facebook and YouTube with similar sanctions.
Russian internet gendarme Roskomnadzor imposed a slowdown on the social network Twitter in mid-March, accused of leaving online content inciting "minors to commit suicide", others containing "child pornography" and information on "drug use".
Roskomnadzor had given Twitter one month to erase this content, on pain of a potential complete blockage in Russia.
In April, the ultimatum was extended until mid-May.
In a statement released on Monday, the agency said it had decided for the time being not to block Twitter after conducting an audit showing that the American company had removed more than 90% of "prohibited information".
The social network slowdown was maintained on mobile devices, however, Roskomnadzor said.
The latter stressed that Twitter had "expressed its willingness and interest to build a constructive dialogue" and made "efforts" to comply with Russian law.
"However, the complete lifting of the restrictions imposed on Twitter requires the removal of all illegal content identified," added the Russian gendarme, without specifying whether the slowdown in the service would end.
In addition, Roskomnadzor indicated having identified illegal content "on other sites including Facebook and YouTube" and added that "if these platforms do not take the appropriate measures" sanctions similar to those of Twitter could be applied to them.
In Russia, the proliferation of measures against several social networks is causing concern among the ranks of power critics, who see it as yet another attempt to stifle freedom of expression and the opposition.
In April, Twitter and then TikTok were fined heavier than usual, 8.9 million rubles (99,000 euros) and 2.6 million (29,000 euros), for not having deleted calls "inciting minors "to demonstrate in support of the imprisoned opponent Alexeï Navalny.
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