Russia isn’t known for its progressive socio-political climate. The opposite is true, in fact. The Eastern European nation has an anti-“gay propaganda” law, and Reuters reports that it’s currently investigating streaming giant Netflix for breaking it.
Russia-n to accusations
The investigation comes following Olga Baranets’, the Russian public commissioner for protecting families (yes, that’s a thing), accusing Netflix of breaking the aforementioned law. The law was introduced in 2013, and specifically prohibits the transmission of “propaganda on non-traditional sexual relations” to Russian minors through programs labelled 16+.
This, and Russia’s general stance on “non-traditional” (i.e. anything non-binary and non-heterosexual) has been universally panned multiple times by individuals and human rights organisations. Back in 2017, the European Court of Human Rights denounced the “propoganda” law for discriminating against LGBTQIA+ people, ruling that it violates the European treaty rules which protect freedom of expression. Moscow called this ruling unjust.
Baranets took her accusation to the Interior Ministry, which is threatening Netflix with a 1 million rouble fine (roughly $13,400 or R218,000) or a temporary suspension of services in Russia should it be found to have violated the anti-“gay propaganda” law.
Netflix believes itself to be in the clear, with an insider telling Russian newspaper Vedomosti that after looking through its catalogue in November, the company didn’t host any LGBTQIA+ content rated 16+ in Russia.
Russia seems intent on regulating Big Tech companies and internet services as a whole, demanding that social media platforms set up local offices should they wish to continue offering their services in the country. Presumably to hold someone accountable for the content it doesn’t like, as is the case in India. Furthermore, the country is looking to build its own, sovereign internet to achieve tighter control over online content.