Russia blocks instant messaging platform Discord

Reuters – Russia’s communications regulator has blocked instant messaging platform Discord for violating Russian law, the TASS news agency reported on Tuesday, making the San Francisco-based company the latest foreign technology platform to be restricted in Russia.

Discord did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content it regards as illegal, issuing relatively small but regular fines when it rules that companies have failed to comply.

The regulator, Roskomnadzor, last week ordered Discord to delete almost 1,000 items it deemed illegal and has previously fined the company for failing to remove banned content.

Moscow blocked Twitter, which has since rebranded as X, as well as Meta Platforms’ (META.O), opens new tab Facebook and Instagram soon after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.