TikTok is suspending new videos and livestreams from Russia, citing the Russian government’s new “fake news” laws.
TikTok entered new territory to comply with “fake news” laws. “[I]n light of Russia's new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service in Russia while we review the safety implications of this law,” TikTok explained in a March 6 newsroom update. “Our in-app messaging service will not be affected. We will continue to evaluate the evolving circumstances in Russia to determine when we might fully resume our services with safety as our top priority.” The update was applied to “Bringing more context to content on TikTok” blog, which noted that “[t]he war in Ukraine is devastating, and our hearts break for all those who are suffering.” In response, the platform said it has reshaped policy to respond to “heightened risk and impact of misleading information.”
The Russian government unleashing an all-out offensive against so-called “fake news” will sound all too familiar to Americans struggling against their own political establishment. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on the fake news law last week, reported The Verge March 6. The law will reportedly punish people with fines or up to 15 years behind bars for spreading so-called ‘false information’ about Russia’s military or for publicly calling for sanctions on Russia. “As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, it has begun to crack down on social platforms and foreign media — Russia has put a block on Facebook, restricted access to Twitter, and has barred access to BBC news sites,” The Verge reported.
The Verge also noted that the Russian government has been taking a multi-pronged approach to thwart so-called “fake news”:
“Last week, Russia’s communications agency Roskomnadzor called out TikTok for removing state-backed content from its platform. TikTok later announced plans to add labels to “some” state-controlled media, and has reportedly been making it harder for users to access Russian state media, in line with moves from Facebook, YouTube, and many others.”
TikTok has tried to project a progressive image by partnering with the feminist Girls Who Code project to get more women in tech, because nothing says progressive equality like an app overseen by a country that puts Uighur Muslims and other minorities in concentration camps.
TikTok has an infamous history of censoring conservatives more than a dozen times. TikTok removed an episode of Reality Check when MRCTV Managing Editor Brittany Hughes covered the hypocrisy of requiring vaccine passports to enter buildings but not requiring an ID to vote. TikTok also removed an episode of MRCTV and MRC Culture Director Eric Scheiner’s show, Wacky Mole, where Scheiner commented on skyrocketing inflation rates.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact your local representative and demand that Big Tech mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency, clarity on “hate speech” and equal footing for conservatives. If you have been censored, contact us using CensorTrack’s contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
