Russia threatens Facebook with a millionaire fine for not suppressing content considered “illegal”

Russia on Tuesday threatened Facebook with fines that can exceed hundreds of millions of euros for not having suppressed content considered “illegal”, a new episode of tension between the Russian government and the internet giants.

In a statement, the Russian telecommunications gendarme Roskomnadzor stated that this sum could reach “between 5% and 10% of the annual turnover” of the US company in Russia.

This could amount to several hundred million euros, according to the Russian business daily Vedomosti.

Roskomnadzor indicates that he sued Facebook for having repeatedly refused to suppress “dangerous” information published on his network and on Instagram, also owned by the US group.

He specified that a Russian court will have to determine the amount of the potential fine.

Facebook had already been sentenced to fines for multiple violations, according to Russian media, but these sums would be lower compared to the potential fines that threaten the social network, according to Roskomnadzor.

Russia frequently sanctions large digital companies, accused of not suppressing content that advocates drugs, suicide, or related to the opposition

In September, the Russian government forced Apple and Google to withdraw the application of the imprisoned Russian opponent Alexei Navalny from their virtual stores in Russia, just before the legislative elections.

Russia denies accusations that it seeks to build a national network under its control, as in China, but it is what NGOs and opponents fear.

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