Russia has fined social media platform Reddit for the first time for failing to remove “banned content” that allegedly contained misleading information about Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. According to a Moscow court cited by RIA, Reddit joins the list of websites that have come under scrutiny in Russia for not deleting content deemed illegal by Moscow, including Wikimedia, Twitch, and Google. The court has fined Reddit 2 million roubles ($20,365 or roughly Rs. 16 lakh). Reddit has not yet responded to the court’s decision.
Furthermore, the court also fined the Wikimedia Foundation, the owner of Wikipedia, 2 million roubles for allegedly not removing false information about Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, as reported by Interfax.
In the past year, Russia has tightened its controls on media and bloggers covering the conflict in Ukraine, introducing stricter penalties for spreading false information about its armed forces or “discrediting” their actions.
While Wikimedia has previously defended the information that Russian authorities complained about, stating that it was well-sourced and aligned with Wikipedia’s standards, it has faced repeated fines by the Russian government.
Wikipedia remains one of the few independent sources of information in Russia since the state crackdown on online content intensified after Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. Despite this, Russia has claimed that it does not plan to block access to Wikipedia.
Wikimedia has criticized the fines as part of the Russian government’s ongoing efforts to limit the availability of reliable and well-sourced information within the country.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Unique Perspective:
The Russian government’s recent move to fine Reddit and Wikipedia for hosting “banned content” raises concerns about the extent of online censorship and control over information in the country. As Russia tightens its grip on media coverage and takes stricter measures against the dissemination of false information, independent sources like Wikipedia become even more crucial in providing reliable knowledge and ensuring freedom of speech. However, these fines threaten the accessibility and availability of diverse perspectives and reliable information for the Russian public.
