The regional public organization known as the Internet Technologies Center, commonly referred to by its acronym ROCIT, has approached the Russian antimonopoly authority with a formal request to pursue legal action against the Twitch platform. The charge arises from Twitch’s practice of compensating broadcasters using Russian debit cards, a move that ROCIT argues undermines fair competition and consumers’ interests within the Russian market. This development has been reported by TASS, the Russian news agency, and has drawn attention from industry observers and regulatory bodies alike.
ROCIT has asked the Federal Antimonopoly Service to evaluate the application and to initiate litigation against Twitch Interactive, Inc. The center contends that Twitch may be in violation of competition laws and urges the agency to address what it describes as infringements under relevant provisions designed to protect fair trade and market integrity. Reporters describe the appeal as a bid to scrutinize Twitch under the national antitrust framework, emphasizing the need for a level playing field for all participants in the digital streaming ecosystem. The case language notes concerns about potential breaches of Article 10 of the Law on the Protection of Competition, invoking the statute as the basis for potential corrective measures. This framing appears in coverage by TASS, which cites ROCIT’s formal request as the trigger for regulatory review and possible enforcement action.
Observers highlight several indicators that ROCIT identifies as signs of antimonopoly law violations. Among these is the suspension of payments to pennants within Russian financial institutions, a move that ROCIT asserts could restrict financial flows associated with content creators on Twitch. Additional concerns include claims that certain user accounts face blocking or removal, actions that ROCIT implies could restrict access to or participation in the platform in ways that might impede healthy competition. The broader question raised is whether Twitch’s payment policies and enforcement practices influence market dynamics in a manner that disadvantages domestic platforms or creators who rely on alternative payment methods available to Russian users. These points have been presented in ROCIT’s submission and retroactively integrated into the public discourse through reports from TASS and related media outlets.
Beyond payment restrictions, ROCIT argues that Twitch adopts policies that artificially constrain the platform’s ability to migrate creators and audiences to alternative streaming venues. The center asserts that Twitch imposes exclusivity rules for certain categories of streamers, effectively limiting cross-platform presence and potentially dampening competition by curbing creators’ freedom to diversify their distribution channels. Such concerns touch on core antitrust issues around market segmentation, platform behavior, and the potential for strategic lock-in that could disadvantage emerging competitors or smaller studios seeking to reach wider audiences. The case is being framed within existing Russian competition law as a test of whether digital ecosystems can operate with sufficient openness to ensure fair access and competitive pricing for end users. Coverage of these claims has appeared in industry briefings and in summaries provided by TASS, which frame ROCIT’s position as part of ongoing regulatory scrutiny of platform economics.
In a related development, Russian authorities previously addressed localization requirements for data related to Russian users, a policy area that has generated significant legal and regulatory discussion. A Moscow court had previously imposed a fine on Twitch for not localizing user data in accordance with Russian data protection and sovereignty standards. This precedent underscores the regulatory environment in which international digital platforms operate within Russia and suggests why ROCIT may view the Twitch case through a broader lens of compliance with national laws governing data handling, payments, and competition. The interplay between data localization mandates and competitive practices continues to shape the regulatory narrative around streaming services and the rights of users, creators, and platform operators. This background context is reflected in the attention given to the Twitch matter by major Russian news outlets and industry observers as reported by TASS and others.
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