Now Russia threatens Facebook: Kremlin tells US social media giant to remove 'dangerous information' or face huge fine after global outage wiped $47billion off firm's share value
Russia today threatened Facebook with huge fines if the US social media giant fails to remove 'dangerous information.'
The Kremlin's broadside comes amid blood in the water for Mark Zuckerberg's firm after it suffered a record seven-hour blackout on Monday which saw $47billion wiped off its share price.
Vladimir Putin's media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said that it would fine Facebook '5 to 10 percent' of its 'annual revenue' as part of a new protocol drawn up after it repeatedly failed 'to remove information dangerous to citizens' on Facebook and Instagram.'
According to the Vedomosti business daily, Facebook earns tens of billions of rubles in Russia per year.
Roskomnadzor said a court will determine when to set the hearing.
Vladimir Putin's media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said that it would fine Facebook '5 to 10 percent' of its 'annual revenue' as part of a new protocol drawn up after it repeatedly failed 'to remove information dangerous to citizens' on Facebook and Instagram' (pictured: Putin attends a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday)
'The exact amount of the fine will also be determined by the court,' the media regulator said in a statement.
Russia regularly takes legal action against internet platforms for not removing content it labels illegal, such as pornographic material or posts condoning drugs and suicide.
The country has already fined Facebook 90 million rubles ($1 million) for various penalties, according to Russian news agencies, including not deleting banned content.
Russia this year has also been tightening controls over US-based tech companies, accusing them of interfering in the country's internal affairs.
In January, Russia demanded that social networks take down posts calling on Russians to join protests in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, under the guise of preventing minors from attending.
President Vladimir Putin that month complained of the growing influence of large tech companies, which he said were competing with sovereign states.
Last month authorities accused US social media companies of interfering in parliamentary elections and summoned the US ambassador in Moscow.
Mark Zuckerberg was forced to apologise after Facebook suffered a record blackout last night (pictured: the Facebook boss at Congress in October 2019)
