SoundCloud banned for fake news – regulator – RT Russia and former Soviet Union
Audio service promoted lies about Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, Roskomnadzor says
Russia has blocked SoundCloud, one of the world’s largest online audio distribution platforms, for spreading false information about Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine, the country’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor said on Sunday. , in a press release.
Access to the service was suspended at the request of the General Prosecutor’s Office because SoundCloud displayed « materials containing false information about the essence of [Russia’s] special military operation on the territory of Ukraine”, according to the Roskomnadzor document, quoted by various media.
In particular, this includes spreading lies about the military campaign »form, methods of warfare (attacks on civilians, strikes on civilian infrastructure), as well as numerous civilian casualties at the hands of Russian soldiers« said the regulator.
Roskomnadzor noted that, according to Russian legislation, such « fake news” is likely to be immediately blocked, adding that he has twice asked the owner of the platform to remove the objectionable material.
The watchdog added that “if the prohibited information is removed, the resource will be unblocked.”
SoundCloud was blocked in Russia on Saturday, with Roskomnadzor saying at the time that the platform violated Russian data protection law. He also claimed that the service flouted regulations prohibiting “calls for massive civil unrest, extremist activities« while spreading »false information of public importance.”
In recent months, Russian authorities have imposed various restrictions and fines on a number of Western tech giants for failing to comply with local laws. In March, the Facebook and Instagram platforms were banned in Russia as extremist organizations after allowing online hate speech against nationals.
In late July, a Moscow court fined social media platforms Snapchat, Tinder and WhatsApp for refusing to locate Russian user data in the country. The same sentence was meted out to US search giant Google after it failed to remove banned information about the conflict in Ukraine.
Previously, Spotify, another popular audio streaming service, pulled out of Russia, arguing it had to because of legislation that criminalizes knowingly posting false information about the actions of the Russian armed forces.
In early March, Russia passed a law that allows authorities to impose substantial fines on individuals and entities for discrediting the Russian military or calling for sanctions against Moscow. If an infraction results inserious consequences« , the author could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
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