As Russia’s government continues to crack down on any dissent regarding their invasion of Ukraine, Netflix and TikTok have joined the multitude of companies that are pulling out of the country. 

The two companies have suspended most of their services in Russia following the country’s new laws threatening to jail people for “fake news”.  

While Netflix did not provide additional details in the suspension of its services, TikTok revealed that its Russian users would no longer be able to post new videos or live streams and see videos shared from elsewhere in the world. 

The actions are likely to further isolate the country and its people after multinational businesses have cut off Russia from vital financial services and technology products in response to Western economic sanctions and global outrage over the invasion of Ukraine. 

The following companies have also pulled out or suspended their services in the country:

• Apple
• Microsoft
• Google
• Samsung
• Snapchat
• Airbnb
• Disney
• Sony
• WarnerBros
• Paramount
• Universal
• Nintendo
• Electronic Arts
• Intel
• BMW, Ford, GM, Honda

Russian President Vladimir Putin intensified a crackdown on media outlets and individuals who fail to hew to the Kremlin line on the war, blocking Facebook and Twitter and signing into law a bill that criminalises the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be “fake” reports. 

“In light of Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend live streaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law,” TikTok said in a statement on Twitter. 

“Our in-app messaging service will not be affected.” 

TikTok spokesperson Hilary McQuaide said the app in Russia now appears in “view-only” mode. While Russian users can still see older videos, they cannot see those from outside the country. 

“The safety of employees is our top priority,” she said, adding that the company — part of China-based tech company ByteDance — didn’t want to put either its Russian employees or users at risk of severe criminal penalties. 

The new legislation, quickly rubber-stamped by both houses of the Kremlin-controlled parliament and signed by Putin, imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years for those spreading information that goes against the Russian government’s narrative on the war. 

Multiple news outlets within the country have also said they would pause their work to evaluate the situation. 

Russian authorities have repeatedly and falsely decried reports of Russian military setbacks or civilian deaths in Ukraine as “fake” news. 

State media outlets refer to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “special military operation” rather than war or an invasion. 

The law envisages sentences of up to three years or fines for spreading what authorities deem to be false news about the military, but the maximum punishment rises to 15 years for cases deemed to have led to “severe consequences.” 

This article was first published on Comms Room

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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