Apple Fined Over $93,000 in Russia for Alleged LGBTQ Promotion
A Moscow court has fined American tech giant Apple Inc. 7.5 million rubles (approximately $93,000 USD) for allegedly violating Russian laws that ban the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships.
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Moscow: A Moscow court has fined American tech giant Apple Inc. 7.5 million rubles (approximately $93,000 USD) for allegedly violating Russian laws that ban the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships.
The Tagansky District Court in Moscow found Apple Distribution International Ltd. guilty under Article 6.21, Part 3 of Russia’s Administrative Offenses Code, which prohibits the online dissemination of content related to non-traditional sexual relations, gender reassignment, and child-free ideology.
According to a statement posted by court officials on Telegram, Apple was found guilty of three administrative offenses, each carrying a fine of over $30,000.
Russian business outlet RBK, citing media regulator Roskomnadzor, reported that the case involved the distribution of a television series on Apple’s streaming platform that featured content allegedly promoting LGBTQ themes.
Due to confidential information related to Apple’s internal policies and services, the court proceedings were held behind closed doors. No further details were disclosed by the court or involved parties.
Russia has significantly tightened its laws related to LGBTQ-related content over the past decade. While promotion among minors was banned in 2013, the scope was expanded in 2022 to include adults. In 2023, Russia officially designated the "international LGBT movement" as a terrorist organization.
In a separate ruling on the same day, the Tagansky Court imposed an additional 3.7 million ruble fine (over $37,000) on Apple for failing to remove content deemed illegal under Russian law. Previously, in January 2024, the company was fined $10,000 for not removing Adolf Hitler’s book Mein Kampf from the Apple Books app, which is listed as extremist material in Russia.
