RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES SAID they are slowing down the speed of uploading photos and videos to Twitter over its failure to remove banned content — part of growing efforts to clamp down on social media platforms that have played a major role in amplifying dissent.

The state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, said it began the slowdown after it said the platform failed to remove the content encouraging suicide among children and containing information about drugs and child pornography.

The agency warned that, if Twitter refuses to abide by Russian law, it could be blocked entirely, but voiced hope that the platform would “take a constructive stance” and comply with the demand to remove the banned content.

Vadim Subbotin, deputy chief of Roskomnadzor, said in televised remarks that Twitter is the only social platform that has “openly ignored the Russian authorities’ demand to remove the banned content”.

Twitter’s user policies outline a host of banned behaviours, including prohibiting content that involves child sexual exploitation or material that promotes or encourages suicide or self-harm.

An email seeking comment on the Russian action was sent to Twitter.

The action against Twitter comes as the authorities have criticised social media platforms that have been used to bring tens of thousands of people into the streets across Russia this year to demand the release of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The wave of demonstrations served as a major challenge to the Kremlin.

Russian authorities have assailed the platforms for failing to remove calls for children to join opposition protests which is against the law in Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that the government has “no desire to block anything,” but added that it was necessary to enforce compliance with the law.

The move against Twitter is part of continuous efforts by the government to tighten control over social platforms.

In 2014, the authorities adopted a law requiring online services to store the personal data of Russian users on servers in Russia and have since tried to make Facebook and Twitter to comply with it.

Both companies have been repeatedly fined, first small amounts of around 50 US dollars and last year the equivalent of 63,000 US dollars each, for not complying.