Russia seeks additional fines against Twitter over banned content

Moscow is seeking additional fines worth $321,586 from Twitter for failing to remove content banned in the country fast enough.

According to TASS news agency, a Russian court said on Wednesday that the state communications regulator's current restrictions were not enough.

State communications regulator Roskomnadzor said last week that Twitter was complying with a demand to remove banned content, but taking too long to do so.

As a result, the punitive slowdown in the service's speed was extended until 15 May.

Roskomnadzor wants Twitter to delete content that contains child pornography, drug abuse information or calls on minors to commit suicide.

TASS said six reports concerning Twitter, each carrying a possible fine of up to 4.0m roubles over a failure to remove content, had been lodged with a Moscow court under Russia's Administrative Offences Code.

No date for the hearing had yet been set, according to the report.