MOSCOW: Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta said on Friday it would be removing content on Ukraine after lawmakers backed legislation that sets jail time and fines for “fake news” about Russia’s army.
“Military censorship in Russia has quickly moved to a new phase: from threats to block and close down publications it moved to the threat of criminal prosecution,” the paper said in a statement on Telegram.
“There is no doubt that this threat will be fulfilled,” Novaya Gazeta said.
The paper, whose editor-in-chief was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year, said its readers “unambiguously spoke in favor of continuing work under conditions of military censorship.”
The paper said it will be removing materials on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from its website but will continue to report on the “consequences” Russia is facing.
Legislation passed by the lower house of the Russian parliament on Friday sets out jail time of up to 15 years and fines against people who publish “knowingly false information” about the military.
The law will affect both Russian and foreign citizens.
Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta says deleting content over new media law
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Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta says deleting content over new media law
- “Military censorship in Russia has quickly moved to a new phase," the paper said on Telegram
- The paper said it will be removing materials on Russia's invasion of Ukraine from its website
Apple, Google offer app store changes under new UK rules
LONDON: Apple and Google have pledged changes to ensure fairness in their app stores, the UK competition watchdog said Tuesday, describing it as “first steps” under its tougher regulation of technology giants.
The Competition and Markets Authority placed the two companies under “strategic market status” last year, giving it powers to impose stricter rules on their mobile platforms.
Apple and Google have submitted packages of commitments to improve fairness and transparency in their app stores, which the CMA is now consulting market participants on.
The proposals cover data collection, how apps are reviewed and ranked and improved access to their mobile operating systems.
They aim to prevent Apple and Google from giving priority to their own apps and to ensure businesses receive fairer terms for delivering apps to customers, including better access to tools to compete with services like the Apple digital wallet.
“These are important first steps while we continue to work on a broad range of additional measures to improve Apple and Google’s app store services in the UK,” said CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell.
The commitments mark the first changes proposed by US tech giants in response to the UK’s digital markets regulation, which came into force last year.
The UK framework is similar to a tech competition law from the European Union, the Digital Markets Act, which carries the potential for hefty financial penalties.
“The commitments announced today allow Apple to continue advancing important privacy and security innovations for users and great opportunities for developers,” an Apple spokesperson said.
The CMA in October found that Apple and Google held an “effective duopoly,” with around 90 to 100 percent of UK mobile services running on their platforms.
A Google spokesperson said existing practices in its Play online store are “fair, objective and transparent.”
“We welcome the opportunity to resolve the CMA’s concerns collaboratively,” they added.
The changes are set to take effect in April, subject to the outcome of a market consultation.
