Russian court fines Apple $130,000 for ‘LGBT content’
Apple penalized for refusing to censor so-called ‘LGBT propaganda’
Apple fined $130k by Russian court for so-called extremist ‘LGBT content’
By Donald Padgett
Apple was fined over 10 million rubles ($130,000) by a court in Russia for extremist ‘LGBT propaganda’ and refusing to censor content, the Russian-language Mediazona reports.
Judge Alexandra Anokhina of Moscow’s Tagansky District Court presided over the hearing on Monday. The proceedings took place behind closed doors at Apple’s request, so it was unclear what content instigated the cases against them.
[The Apple TV+ streaming service can be accessed in Russia, although Apple limited its business operations in Russia in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.]
[The court ruling contrasts with recent criticism of Apple for complying with Russian censors’ demands. For example, the advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders previously stated: “Apple blocked the Current Time app produced jointly by RFE/RL and the US public broadcaster Voice of America. And in August 2023, Apple removed the podcasts of the Russian exile media outlets Meduza and Kholod from its platform when pressed by the Russian regulator, Roskomnadzor. These decisions by Apple have contributed to the progressive elimination of independent media from the Russian digital arena.]
Apple faced a total of four charges at the opening of the hearing.
Three charges related to “LGBT propaganda,” for which Apple was fined 2.5 million rubles per count. Apple faced an additional charge for refusing to censor content at the request of the authorities, for which it received a fine of three million rubles.
The new laws broadened the scope of a 2013 law banning the dissemination of LGBTQ-related information to minors, extending that ban to adults.
In 2023, the Russian Supreme Court granted a petition to label the “international LGBT social movement” as “extremist” and ban its activities, advocacy, and support within the country.
Late last year, Putin signed two more anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law. One bans the adoption of Russian children by foreign nationals from countries that permit gender-affirming care. The other bans “childfree propaganda” that promotes nontraditional families as a positive environment for children.
The new laws broadened the scope of a 2013 law banning the dissemination of LGBTQ-related information to minors, extending that ban to adults.
In 2023, the Russian Supreme Court granted a petition to label the “international LGBT social movement” as “extremist” and ban its activities, advocacy, and support within the country.
Late last year, Putin signed two more anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law. One bans the adoption of Russian children by foreign nationals from countries that permit gender-affirming care. The other bans “childfree propaganda” that promotes nontraditional families as a positive environment for children.
