TikTok, Netflix suspend services in Russia

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) - Netflix and TikTok on Sunday joined a growing list of companies suspending services in Russia.

“In light of Russia's new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law. Our in-app messaging service will not be affected,” TikTok said on Twitter.

The social networking service added that they will continue to evaluate the evolving circumstances in Russia to determine when they might fully resume their services with safety as their top priority.

Netflix cited “circumstances on the ground” for its decision to suspend its Russian service but did not provide further details.

After Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the regulation, which provides for up to 15 years in prison for "spreading fake information" regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, numerous Western media outlets such as the BBC, CNN, ZDF and Bloomberg suspended their activities in Russia.