TikTok has suspended new content and lives streaming abilities on its platform in Russia because of the country’s new “fake news” law, the app announced on Sunday.

 

 

In a statement, TikTok said the safety of its employees and users is its highest priority. TikTok said that “in light of Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend live streaming and new content to our video service in Russia while we review the safety implications of this law.” “Our in-app messaging service will not be affected,” it said. “We will continue to evaluate the evolving circumstances in Russia to determine when we might fully resume our services with safety as our top priority.”

TikTok said it wants to be an outlet for “creativity and entertainment that can provide a source of relief and human connection during a time of war when people are facing immense tragedy and isolation.” The platform is not the first media outlet to suspend its services in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

 

 

After the Russian Parliament passed the “fake news” law, which makes it an offense to disseminate what it described as “fake” information about the country’s armed forces, the BBC announced that it would suspend reporting work in Russia. It also blocked Facebook, according to the country’s media regulator, Roskomnadzor.

It was not immediately clear whether other entities owned by Facebook’s parent company, Meta, like WhatsApp and Instagram, would also be suspended.

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