The Moscow Tagansky Court has imposed a 1 million ruble fine on the Telegram messenger for violating the self-regulation law, according to statements from the press service of Moscow courts. In its official release, Telegram Messenger Inc. was described as having been found guilty of an administrative offense under Part 2 of Article 13.50 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, resulting in the administrative penalty of one million rubles.
The core issue traces back to a 2021 legal framework that introduced a self-regulation regime for social networks. Under this regime, online platforms are expected to identify and block prohibited information on their own initiative, maintain a visible feedback channel for user complaints about such content, and publish an annual report detailing the results of their efforts in this area.
This is not the first time Telegram has faced penalties tied to regulatory compliance. Earlier, the social network was ordered to pay 4 million rubles for failing to follow Roskomnadzor’s directives.
In the summer of 2023, the Russian State Duma enacted a new law that increases the fines for social networks and instant messaging owners who do not meet their obligations to curb and manage prohibited content. Under this provision, violators can face fines ranging from 4 to 6 million rubles, underscoring a stricter regulatory posture in the digital information space.
Additionally, previous penalties have been issued by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) for violations of advertising law connected to Telegram channels. These actions illustrate the overlapping regulatory framework that governs online platforms operating in Russia and the potential for multiple agencies to pursue enforcement actions in cases involving regulated content.