Russia’s communications regulator has blocked Discord for violating local laws, following its failure to comply with content law. The platform was fined 3.5 million rubles ($36,150) for non-compliance.
The TASS news agency reported earlier today that Discord, an instant messaging platform, has been blocked by Russia’s communications regulator for violating the country’s laws. The most recent foreign technology platform to encounter restrictions in Russia is the San Francisco-based company.
Discord has been included in the country’s social network registry, necessitating that it identify and prevent illicit content, as per Roskomnadzor, the regulator. Discord was fined 3.5 million rubles ($36,150) for its failure to comply with these regulations.
“The access to the Discord is being restricted in connection of violation of requirements of Russian laws, compliance with which is required to prevent the use of the messenger for terrorist and extremist services, recruitment of citizens to commit them, for drug sales, and in connection with unlawful information posting,” TASS news informed.
Foreign technology companies have been subjected to consistent pressure from Russia to eliminate content that is considered illegal under its laws. Noncompliance is punishable by consistent penalties. Requests for comment were not promptly addressed by Discord.
Other platforms, including Twitter (now rebranded as X), Facebook, and Instagram, have been blocked by Moscow in response to the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
