Russia wages online battle against TikTok and YouTube

Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor this week reacted to a wave of calls for protests in support of Navalny by threatening social media networks with fines if they do not delete content inciting minors to participate in the demonstrations. — Reuters

MOSCOW: “I’m an American!” a young Russian under the username Neurolera exclaims in English on the popular video-sharing app TikTok as she explains how to impersonate a tourist to avoid arrest at a street demonstration.

Her video – published ahead of rallies planned in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny – has been viewed more than 500,000 times while videos demanding Navalny’s release garnered hundreds of millions of views on the platform.