Russia’s Media Watchdog Extends Measures to Slow down Twitter until May 15

The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has decided to extend measures to slow down Twitter until May 15, the service reported on Monday, TASS reported.

“Taking into account the decision made by Twitter for the first time to change the principles and speed of its own moderation service in Russia and to remove a significant part of the prohibited content, Roskomnadzor decided not to proceed to the next measure – to completely block activities of the social network on the territory of the country, extending a measure to limit Twitter traffic until May 15,” the statement said.

The service also noted that on April 1, Twitter’s Vice President for public policy and communications for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region Sinead McSweeney, informed Roskomnadzor of the company’s efforts to improve the moderation of prohibited content.

The service noted that compliance with Russian legislation would remove measures to slow down traffic and avoid blocking the social network in Russia.

On March 10, the watchdog announced the beginning of a “primary slowdown” in the speed of Twitter in Russia due to the fact that the service does not remove content prohibited in the country. The department promised to continue measures against the social network up to its blocking.