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Netflix to leave Russia after defying order to carry state-run channels

Netflix to stop streaming in Russia, cut off all users when billing periods end.

by · Ars Technica

Netflix is suspending its streaming service inside Russia after the country passed a law that would require the industry giant to carry Russian state-owned channels. This happens amid Russia's invasion of the neighboring country of Ukraine.

"Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia," Netflix told Ars and other media outlets. Netflix stopped letting people in Russia sign up for new subscriptions and will prevent renewal of any existing subscriptions, a Netflix spokesperson told Ars. Once a subscriber's monthly billing period ends, the person's service will be halted.

Netflix previously said it would not comply with Russia's "Vitrina TV law," which would require it to carry 20 free-to-air Russian channels. "Given the current situation, we have no plans to add these channels to our service," Netflix told media outlets last week.

The lineup of required channels includes the state-owned Channel One. A BBC article about how Russian TV channels report the invasion of Ukraine recounted a Channel One presenter stating "that Ukrainian troops 'are preparing to shell residential houses' and bomb warehouses with ammonia, in 'acts of provocation against civilians and Russian forces.'" Russia has been telling media outlets not to call the country's invasion of Ukraine "an attack," "invasion," or "declaration of war."

Channel One is led by Konstantin Ernst, who was described in a 2019 New Yorker profile as "the Kremlin’s creative director" and "Putin’s unofficial minister of propaganda."

Russian law

Netflix was reportedly required to comply with the Vitrina law by March 1. The company also recently stopped production of four Russian-language programs that were in the works.

The Vitrina law applies to services with over 100,000 subscribers in Russia, and "Netflix is the only international programmer that has enough subscribers to require compliance with the rule," The Wall Street Journal wrote. Other channels that Netflix would have been required to carry reportedly include the Russian Orthodox Church's channel Spas and the pro-Kremlin NTV, which is operated by a state-owned entity.

"Russian state-run media outlets have sought to advance President Vladimir Putin's narrative that Ukraine is an aggressor that threatens Russia and have presented disinformation to support those claims," the Journal article noted. "The Russian channels have adhered to the Kremlin's line that its military action isn't striking civilian targets and have played up the argument that Ukraine could revive its nuclear arsenal, a point meant to convey that Russia is acting out of self-defense."

Netflix described its stoppage of service in Russia as a "suspension" rather than a permanent change and hasn't ruled out restarting service in the future. Netflix has under 1 million subscribers in Russia but hasn't provided a more specific user count. Netflix has 222 million paid subscriptions in over 190 countries.

Netflix in 2020 partnered with a Russian company to provide service in the country due to a Russian law requiring it to operate through a local company, a Netflix spokesperson said. Netflix is in the process of ending its business relationship with NMG, the Russian company it partnered with, the spokesperson said. NMG owns a minority stake in Channel One, which is majority owned by the Russian government.

TikTok suspends video due to Russian “fake news” law

Separately, TikTok said it is suspending livestreaming and video due to a Russian law that threatens prison sentences or fines for publication of information that contradicts Russia's narrative about the country's invasion of Ukraine. TikTok said it made the decision to protect "the safety of our employees and our users."

"In light of Russia's new 'fake news' law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law. Our in-app messaging service will not be affected," TikTok said in a Twitter thread. TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance.

The new Russian law also caused some Western news organizations to suspend operations in Russia.