Russian Telecom Watchdog Threatens To Ban Google For Failing To Block Illegal Content

Russian Telecom Watchdog Threatens to Ban Google for Failing to Block Illegal Content

Russia's communications regulator warned on Wednesday authorities could amend a law that punishes search engines in Russia for refusing to filer illegal content so that it would allow blocking them.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th December, 2018) Russia's communications regulator warned on Wednesday authorities could amend a law that punishes search engines in Russia for refusing to filer illegal content so that it would allow blocking them.

Roskomnadzor fined Google $7,500 on Tuesday for failing to abide by the law. The search giant has been given ten days to appeal the penalty.

"I do not rule out a tougher penalty up to blocking it. Changes to this effect could be made to Federal law 149 on information, information technology and information protection," Roskomnadzor deputy chief Vadim Subbotin told Sputnik.

Russia passed a law in October that requires all search engines to filter and block content from websites flagged as illegal in a special registry.

Google ignored the federal blacklist, leading to administrative charges against it in November. Roskomnadzor chief Alexander Zharov said a second probe could be opened into the California-based search engine before the year ends.