(Reuters) – MOSCOW (Reuters) – According to the Interfax news agency, Facebook has paid 17 million roubles ($229,643) in fines owing in Russia for failing to erase information deemed unlawful by Moscow, but the danger of a possibly higher charge looms.
Facebook parent Meta, along with Alphabet’s Google, will face a court case next week for alleged persistent breaches of Russian content regulations, and may be penalised a portion of its yearly income in Russia.
On Sunday, Facebook did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
In October, Russia dispatched official bailiffs to collect 17 million roubles in fines levied on Facebook. According to the federal bailiff service’s database, there were no further enforcement procedures against Interfax as of Sunday.
This year, Moscow has boosted pressure on huge Internet corporations in what opponents see as an attempt by Russian authorities to gain greater control over the internet, which they fear threatens to restrict individual and corporate freedom.
According to Interfax, the messaging service Telegram has also paid a fine of 15 million roubles.
Telegram did not reply quickly to a request for comment.
