Russian court fines Twitter for failing to delete banned content

Ruling comes amid continuing push by Moscow to exert more influence over foreign social media platforms.

A Russian court has fined Twitter a total of 8.9 million roubles ($116,800) over accusations that the social media giant had failed to delete banned content. Moscow said last month it had slowed the speed of Twitter inside Russia, and on March 16 threatened to ban the United States-based service outright over content that it said ranged from child pornography to drug abuse. Twitter declined to comment on Friday. Last month it said it was worried about the Russian action’s effect on free speech, and denied that it allowed its platform to be used to promote any illegal behaviour.