Russia Fines Apple $131,000 for ‘LGBT Propaganda’ and Content Violations

A Moscow court has hit Apple with fines tied to alleged promotion of ‘non-traditional sexual relations’ and failure to remove banned content.

A customer tests a smartphone during the launch of the new iPhone XS and XS Max sales at 're:Store' Apple reseller shop in Moscow, on Sept. 28, 2018. Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters

A Moscow court has fined Apple a total of 10.5 million rubles (approximately $131,000) for alleged violations of Russia’s ban on “LGBT propaganda” and for failing to delete prohibited content at the request of government censors.

The rulings were issued on May 19 by the Tagansky District Court, according to Mediazona, an independent Russian media outlet whose reporters were in the courtroom for those parts of the proceedings that were not closed to the press. Russian state media Tass and Interfax corroborated the rulings.