Russian police have launched an investigation into whether Apple's gay emojis are a violation of the country's strict "homosexual propaganda" law.
The emojis were released earlier this year as part of Apple's iOS update 8.3 and include images of same-sex parents with their children, two men holding hands and a lesbian couple kissing.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Homosexuality is not officially a crime in Russia, but "gay propaganda" legislation introduced in 2013 bans the promotion or display of homosexuality in front of minors.
If found guilty, the technology giant faces a fine of up to 1 million rubles (£10,000) and a three month suspension across the country, the Daily Telegraph reports.
This isn't the first time Apple has come under fire from the Russian government. Last year Vitaly Milonov, the architect of the propaganda law, called for Apple CEO Tim Cook to be banned from entering the country after he came out as gay.
Earlier this year, another tech giant was the target of Milonov's anti-gay rhetoric. The politician called for the country's media watchdog to block Facebook over its rainbow flag tool.
Homophobia is rife in Russia, with a recent survey revealing that 37 per cent of Russians think of homosexuality as a disease that needs to be cured, according to the Moscow Times. Human rights groups warn that LGBT people are routinely prosecuted under Milonov's legislation.
-
What to know before turning to AI for financial advicethe explainer It can help you crunch the numbers — but it might also pocket your data
-
Book reviews: 'The Headache: The Science of a Most Confounding Affliction—and a Search for Relief' and 'Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run'Feature The search for a headache cure and revisiting Springsteen's 'Born to Run' album on its 50th anniversary
-
Keith McNally' 6 favorite books that have ambitious charactersFeature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weaponsThe Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarrayIn the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
