MOSCOW—Russia’s communications watchdog said it is slowing the speed of
in the country for failing to delete banned content, escalating its crackdown on internet freedoms.
The regulator, Roskomnadzor, said Wednesday that it would limit the speed of the service on all cellphones and half of stationary devices, such as desktop computers, beginning March 10. The agency said it could block Twitter entirely if it failed to remove banned content linked to suicide, pornography and drugs.
The move against the platform follows a warning by the regulator earlier this month that if the company doesn’t remove the content it could face fines of $100,000 or more. It comes in the aftermath of a wave of protests last month following the detention of opposition politician
Alexei Navalny.
“In order to protect Russian citizens and force the internet service to comply with the legislation on the…