UPDATE 2: Watchdog slows Twitter speed, says can block if network ignores law

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MOSCOW, Mar 10 (PRIME) -- The Russian communications service decided on Wednesday to decelerate the speed of work of microblogging social network Twitter in the country on 100% of mobile devices and on 50% of desktops, the authority said in a statement.

The decision resulted from non-deletion by Twitter since 2017 of the content calling to teenagers to commit suicide as well as information with children’s pornography or information on the use of narcotic drugs.

The authority had sent over 28,000 initial and repeated requests to delete the links and posts with illegal information.

“In order to protect the Russian citizens and force the Internet service to follow the law on the territory of the Russian Federation, the measures of centralized response were taken against Twitter from March 10, 2021, in particular, initial slowing of the speed of work of the service according to the regulation. The speed will be decreased on 100% of mobile devices and on 50% of desktops,” the authority said.

The watchdog also said that if Twitter continues to misbehave in respect to the law, the measures up to blocking will be applied to the Internet service.

Igor Bederov, an expert of engineering center SafeNet of the National Technology Initiative, said that the restrictions will be noticed only by a small part of the citizens. As of October 2020, the social network was used only by 0.44% of the country’s population.

Politicians’ opinion

Deputy Anton Gorelkin posted on Telegram that the slowdown is a tool to mainly impact Twitter’s commercial profit, which the company puts above all else. “I hope it will be more effective than modest Russian fines,” he said.

“I recommend the liberal community that will start complaining about the violation of the freedom of speech to remember when last time you or your acquaintances were banned on Twitter and Facebook without any clear reasons, just to shut your mouth. If the liberals are happy to be treated so cynically, Russia is not.”

Senator Alexander Bashkin said the watchdog’s move will warn video hosting YouTube and other social networks “that solve their problems at the expense of Russia’s law and order.”

Twitter turned long ago from a means of communications into “the arms that are used not only against Russia, but also against the freedom of speech, information, and the democracy grounds.”

“This situation worries not only our country, but the whole range of other states. PACE discussed the issues of intrusion of Internet giants in January,” Bashkin said.

Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov said it is not a blind threat. “And Twitter and other social networks that do not respect the laws must prepare for serious steps up to their muting,” he told PRIME.

“Twitter performs extremist functions and distributes the materials aimed against Russia’s security,” the senator added.

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