After Google and Facebook blocks ad revenues for Russian state-owned media outlets, further restrictions by tech platforms announced
TECHNOLOGY POWERING BUSINESS
News Censorship
Russia Limits Access To Twitter Amidst Ukraine Invasion
Russian regulator slows down access to Twitter across country amidst spat with Facebook over fact-checking and labelling of Russian media posts
Putin Orders New System To Ban ‘Toxic’ Internet Content
Amid Ukraine crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin asks his administration to consider new system to ban toxic internet content
Twitter Expands Misleading Tweet Feature
Twitter has expanded its test feature to other countries that allows users to flag or report misleading tweets on the platform
German Watchdog Finds No Evidence Of Xiaomi Secret Function
Germany's federal cybersecurity watchdog concludes Xiaomi investigation, after warning from Lithuanian counterparts about censorship risk
Instagram Criticised After Blocking Memorial Hashtag
Instagram says it blocked hashtag commemorating victims of Iran airline disaster 'by mistake' as social media giants face growing regulatory pressure
Tumblr Bans 450 Words To Remain on App Store
Popular blogging service Tumblr has banned nearly 450 words from its iOS app, in order to comply with Apple's App Store Guidelines
Russia Fines Google $100m Over Banned Content
Russia imposes first fines on Google and Meta based on annual turnover, as country cracks down on 'extremist' internet content
China Orders Microsoft Bing To Suspend Auto-suggest Function
Last remaining major foreign search engine still operating in China, ordered to suspend its auto-suggest function by local authorities
Russia Fines Meta, Twitter and TikTok Over ‘Banned Content’
Campaign against US tech firms in Russia shows no sign of slowing, with string of financial penalties levied against multiple firms
Online Safety Bill Changes Urged By MPs
Changes required. Major changes are being urged by joint committee of MPs to the draft of the UK's online safety bill to tackle online concerns
Yahoo Pulls Out Of China, Citing Challenging Restrictions
Western tech exodus continues. Yahoo becomes latest American tech firm to pull its services from China, amid new restrictive laws
Fortnite To Withdraw From China Amid Gaming Crackdown
Chinese version of Fortnite will be closed down on 15 November, after Beijing introduced tough new laws limiting online gaming
Twitter Finds Algorithms Give More Prominence To Political Right
Twitter finds its own news-feed algorithms give more amplification to mainstream political right than left, as social media firms face bias criticism
Apple Removes Quran App In China
Apple takes down popular Quran app in China after government request, as critics call company hypocritical for working with authoritarian regimes
Microsoft Shutters LinkedIn In China Over Increasing Censorship
LinkedIn, China's last major US-operated social network, is being closed down, due to Beijing's increasing censorship of the online world
Russian Watchdog Warns Facebook Of Hefty Fine
Facebook warned it faces fine of up to 10 percent of its annual turnover in Russia, for failing to remove what officials call 'illegal content'
Google, Apple Pull Alexei Navalny App After Russian Demand
Voting app belonging to poisoned and jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny pulled from both Apple and Google app stores in Russia
Wikipedia Bans Seven Chinese Users Citing ‘Infiltration’
Wikimedia Foundation bans seven users in China for 'infiltration of Wikimedia systems' that has resulted in 'physical harm' of users
Texas Law Bans Social Media ‘De-Platforming’
US state of Texas passes law that prohibits social media companies from removing users based on their views, following Donald Trump ban controversy
Aussie Court Rules Publishers Liable For Comments On Facebook Pages
Court in Australia shifts responsibility for harmful online content found on the Facebook pages of local publishers or media companies
Amazon Seeks ‘More Active’ Role In Removing Banned Cloud Content
Amazon reportedly looking to take more active role in removing cloud content that violates terms after Islamic State propaganda found hosted on AWS
Apple Urged To Drop CSAM Scanning Plans By Campaigners
More than 90 privacy groups urge Apple to abandon plans to scan children's messages, and the iPhone's of adults for CSAM images
China Approves Far-Reaching Privacy Law
Beijing approves tough new rules about the collection and use of personal data, including stronger rules governing surveillance systems
Twitter Suspends Marjorie Taylor Greene, Again
Third suspension from Twitter for Republican far-right conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene, who tweeted misinformation about Covid vaccines
Twitter Hiring To Comply With New Indian Rules
Local fall guys? Twitter appoints interim chief compliance officer and seeks two other executives for troubled Indian office
Tech Giants Could Withdraw Services Over Hong Kong Doxxing Bill
China's bill that will clampdown on 'doxxing' in Hong Kong, could force Facebook, Google, Twitter and others tech giants to withdraw from the city
Twitter Loses Protection Liability Over User Content In India
Tense standoff for Twitter in India continues, after government strips the platform of its user content liability protection
Russia Fines Facebook $235,000 Over ‘Illegal Content’
Russia penalises Facebook again for hosting 'illegal content', after social network highlights Russian disinformation campaign
Facebook Bans Trump For Two Years
Facebook is to review its ban Donald Trump after two years due to Oversight Board criticism, as company revises its controversial rules for politicians