MOSCOW (RUSSIA) – Russia on Saturday levelled accusations against the United States of using IT opportunities to take part in unfair competition and over social media platforms censoring content arbitrarily and indiscriminately.
Russia this week said it was bringing down the speed of Twitter, which was an act of retaliation for what it described as a failure to take down banned content. It also threatened to block the US platform, which is a move intensifying a row between Moscow and US social media firms.
Twitter currently tags some Russian media “state-affiliated media”, a move criticised by Moscow. President Vladimir Putin approved laws in December giving Russia new powers to put restrictions on US social media giants.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook on Saturday, “[The platforms] do not, in principle, have unified standards for managing themselves. This is a semantic and technological stalemate.”
“Digital content is arbitrarily and indiscriminately censored by certain moderators without the decision of a court or a relevant, competent authority.”
Twitter on Tuesday said it was deeply worried by increased attempts to restrict online public conversation. It added that it was worried about the impact it would have on free speech of the Russian action to limit its service.
“Washington’s goal is obvious – to use IT opportunities for unfair competition in all spheres,” Zakharova said.