In 2014, the authorities adopted a law requiring online services to store the personal data of Russian users on servers in Russia and have since tried to make Facebook and Twitter to comply with it. вЂњDozens of laws have been adopted since then that expand the categories of prohibited information, introduce new restrictions (and) expand the list of government institutions that can carry out online censorship,вЂќ Kozlyuk said. The move against Twitter is part of continuing efforts by the government to tighten control of the internet and the social media dating back to 2012, when a law allowing authorities to blacklist and block certain online content was adopted.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged police to act more actively to monitor social platforms and to track down those who вЂњdraw the children into illegal and unsanctioned street actions.вЂќ Russian authorities have assailed the platforms for failing to remove calls for children to join unsanctioned opposition protests. The wave of demonstrations served as a major challenge to the Kremlin. The action against Twitter comes as the authorities have criticized social media platforms that have been used to bring tens of thousands of people into the streets across Russia this year to demand the release of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday the government has вЂњno desire to block anything,вЂќ but added that it was necessary to enforce the law.

Twitter is less popular in Russia than other social media services, with about 13 million users, or about a third of the number that Facebook has, according to data from web traffic research firm Similar Web.Д«ut the attack on the platform could be вЂњan artillery shot aimed, among other things, at scaring other major social media,вЂќ said Artyom Kozlyuk, head of the internet rights group Roskomsvoboda. вЂњWe remain committed to advocating for the Open Internet around the world and are deeply concerned by increased attempts to block and throttle online public conversation,вЂќ the statement said. Twitter said in a statement that вЂњwe have a zero-tolerance policy regarding child sexual exploitation, it is against the Twitter Rules to promote, glorify or encourage suicide and self harm, and we do not allow the use of Twitter for any unlawful behaviour or to further illegal activities, including the buying and selling of drugs.вЂќ Roskomnadzor said in a statement that Twitter has failed to remove more than 3,000 posts with the banned content, including more than 2,500 posts encouraging suicide among minors. The watchdog said the slowdown would apply to all mobile devices and 50% of desktop users nationwide. Vadim Subbotin, deputy chief of Roskomnadzor, said in televised remarks that Twitter is the only social platform that has вЂњopenly ignored the Russian authorities' demand to remove the banned content.вЂќ The Russian watchdog warned that if Twitter refuses to abide by Russian law, it could be blocked entirely, but it voiced hope the platform would вЂњtake a constructive stanceвЂќ and comply with removing the banned content. Twitter responded by emphasizing its policy of zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation, promotion of suicide and drug sales. The state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said it began the slowdown after it said Twitter failed to remove content encouraging suicide among children and containing information about drugs and child pornography.

MOSCOW - Russian authorities said Wednesday they are slowing down the speed of uploading photos and videos to Twitter over its failure to remove banned content - part of growing efforts to curb social media platforms that have played a major role in amplifying dissent.

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