Roskomnadzor has officially announced the blocking of the Discord messenger in Russia on October 8, 2024, citing numerous violations of Russian legislation related to the dissemination of illegal information. The regulatory body highlighted that materials promoting terrorist and extremist activities, as well as facilitating drug sales and other illegal actions, were being circulated through the messenger.
Despite repeated requests from Roskomnadzor to remove the prohibited materials, a significant portion of them remained on the platform. The agency clarified that the decision to block Discord was taken to prevent its use for activities that could potentially threaten national security. Discord had previously faced regulatory scrutiny, including a 3.5 million ruble fine for failing to remove extremist content, and instances of non-compliance due to pressure from Russian authorities.
The move to block Discord aligns with the broader government policy aimed at regulating digital platforms that are perceived to be in violation of Russian laws regarding the restriction of access to illegal content. This decision underscores the authorities’ commitment to ensuring compliance with national legislation in the digital sphere.