Russia fines Google, TikTok over banned content

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia fined Alphabet's Google and TikTok on Wednesday for failing to comply with an order from communications regulator Roskomnadzor over banned content, the Moscow courts' press service said.

Moscow's Tagansky district court fined Google 5 million roubles ($58,038) and TikTok 4 million roubles, the court said, for failing to identify content that is very similar to content they have previously been ordered to remove.

Google and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Russia has for several years ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content it deems illegal, issuing small, but persistent fines when it sees failures to comply.

Moscow has been particularly critical of Google for taking down YouTube channels of Russian media and public figures.

($1 = 86.1500 roubles)

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)