Russia’s Roskomnadzor says it is taking punitive action against companies including TikTok, Telegram, Zoom, Discord and Pinterest.
Russia’s state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor will take punitive action against a number of foreign IT companies, including TikTok, Telegram, Zoom, Discord and Pinterest.
In a statement on Friday, Roskomnadzor said its actions were in response to the companies’ failure to remove content it had flagged as illegal, and that the punitive measures would remain in effect until the companies complied with its demands.
The regulator has not indicated what action it intends to take.
Russia has repeatedly threatened to fine IT companies – including Google – for allegedly violating tough new laws criminalizing the dissemination of so-called “false information” about the Russian military.
Russia has branded its war against Ukraine a “special military operation”. In March, Roskomnadzor warned that labeling the military action as an “invasion,” “attack,” or “declaration of war” would result in websites being blocked.
On Tuesday, Russian courts fined US live-streaming service Twitch two million rubles (about $33,000) and messenger service Telegram 11 million rubles (about $179,000). Violating the laws of military censorship.
The move to rein in foreign IT firms came as the head of Britain’s intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ said on Friday Russia had failed to gain ground in the information war in cyberspace against Ukraine.
Jeremy Fleming, the intelligence chief, wrote in an op-ed in The Economist that both countries used their cyber capabilities in the war in Ukraine.
“So far, President Putin has comprehensively lost the information war in Ukraine and the West. While this is cause for celebration, we should not underestimate the impact of Russian disinformation elsewhere in the world,” Fleming wrote.
“As with its land invasion, Russia’s initial online plans appear to have fallen short. The country’s use of objectionable cyber tools was irresponsible and indiscriminate,” he said.
Fleming said Russia used WhisperGate malware to destroy and deface Ukrainian government systems.
He also said Russia has previously used the same cyberwar playbook in Syria and the Balkans, saying online disinformation is a key part of Russia’s strategy. However, GCHQ was able to intercept and warn in good time, he said.
Without going into detail, Fleming said Britain’s National Cyber Force could respond to Russia by sending in a British military unit using offensive cyber tools.