TikTok has suspended live streaming and new content uploads to its platform in Russia, citing the country’s “fake news” laws.
The video-sharing giant said it wanted to ensure the safety of employees and users as it evaluated the new law.
Since Friday, anyone who writes what they believe to be fake news about the Russian armed forces faces a long prison sentence.
The BBC and other news outlets have stopped reporting in Russia, saying they can no longer be independent.
There are more than 70 million monthly users of TikTok in Russia, but developers there recently launched a competing service.
In a series of tweets, TikTok said, “Faced with Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend live streaming and new content for our video service while we assess the security implications of this law.”
“Our in-app messaging service will not be affected.”
It added: “We will continue to assess the evolving circumstances in Russia to determine when we can fully resume our services with safety as a top priority.”
- The BBC is suspending the work of its journalists in Russia
- Facebook attacks Russia and blocks its platforms
- Apple stops sales and restricts services in Russia
Chinese-owned TikTok, which has a billion users worldwide, has been criticized for not speaking out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, unlike its competitors Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter.
The site has also been accused of facilitating disinformation during the conflict, as videos from both Russia and Ukraine spread quickly.
In a lengthy statement on its website on Sunday, TikTok described the war in Ukraine as “devastating,” adding that it had “brought pain to our community and our people.”
It also said it recognizes “the increased risk and impact of misleading information in times of crisis” and is working to strengthen its security measures.
On Friday, Russia’s parliament passed new legislation to combat what the Kremlin calls an “information war” against the country.
Among other things, the Kremlin is opposed to calling the conflict a war and instead speaks of a “special military operation”. Anyone who has written “fake news” about their armed forces can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
In response, the BBC has temporarily suspended the work of its journalists in Russia, with BBC Director-General Tim Davie saying the legislation “appears to criminalize the process of independent journalism”.
Canada’s public broadcaster and Bloomberg News said they too had temporarily halted coverage from Russia, and news channel CNN said it would halt broadcasts in the country.
- LIVE: Latest updates from on site
- IN Kyiv: Locals fear another Grozny or Aleppo
- ANALYSIS: Europe is finally making an appearance
- EXPLAINED: Why did Putin invade Ukraine?
- DETAILED: Full coverage of the conflict
Add Comment