TikTok announces limiting of services in Russia due to 'fake news' law

TikTok app on a cell phone.
(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

TikTok is suspending new content and livestreaming on its platform in Russia, the company announced Sunday, citing safety concerns for its users and employees in the country.

This comes in the wake of Russia passing a law on Friday that imposes a jail term of up to 15 years for anyone who intentionally spreads "fake news" about the country's military amid the invasion of Ukraine. In a statement, TikTok declared it has "no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service in Russia while we review the safety implications of this law." TikTok confirmed this will not affect its in-app messaging service.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.