Emerging
May 26, 20261
Moscow Court Fines DeviantArt 3.5 Million Rubles for Refusing to Delete Banned Content
Moscow's Tagansky District Court fined DeviantArt 3.5 million rubles on May 26, 2026, for refusing to delete information banned under Russian law. The fine was issued under Russia's administrative code for breaching access limitation procedures, following Roskomnadzor's 2021 decision to restrict the platform's access.
Quick Facts
- Court imposed administrative fine
- Platform refused to delete banned content
- Access restriction decision enforced
- Tagansky District Court of Moscow
- DeviantArt, Inc.
The Tagansky District Court in Moscow has imposed a fine of 3.5 million rubles (approximately $48,900) on DeviantArt, Inc. for failing to comply with Russian legal requirements to delete banned information from its platform. The court found the company liable on May 26, 2026, for breaching procedures governing access limitations to information resources under Russian law. The violation was prosecuted under Part 2, Article 13.41 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses, which addresses non-compliance with restrictions on information dissemination.
DeviantArt is a major international online gallery and social network serving artists, painters, and designers worldwide. Russian internet regulator Roskomnadzor initially restricted access to the platform in 2021 after the company declined to remove content deemed prohibited under Russian legislation. The administrative fine represents the court's enforcement of that earlier access limitation decision, reflecting ongoing tensions between international digital platforms and Russian content regulations.
The case underscores the ongoing disputes between Russian authorities and foreign tech companies over content moderation and compliance with local legal requirements. The fine demonstrates Russia's continued enforcement of content removal orders against platforms that do not comply with the country's restrictions on information dissemination.
Topics
Why This Matters
This case illustrates the escalating enforcement actions by Russian authorities against international digital platforms that resist content removal demands. For international tech companies, it demonstrates the significant financial and operational risks of non-compliance with Russian regulations, with fines potentially increasing as enforcement accelerates. For users and content creators in Russia, it reflects tightening restrictions on access to global creative communities and raises questions about content freedom on international platforms operating in the region.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2021
WireRoskomnadzor restricted access to DeviantArt platform due to content non-compliance
May 26, 2026
WireTagansky District Court fined DeviantArt 3.5 million rubles for refusing to delete banned information