Czech prosecutors indict former president's top aide for embezzlement
2 hours ago
Russia social media site vKontakte (VK) expanded its privacy functions to give its users more tools to protect them from arrest, the company said on August 13.
The Kremlin has been cracking down on online criticism of the government. Vedomosti reports that of 182 criminal cases launched in 2017 for social network posts, 138 were based on VK posts, with another four people prosecuted for posts on Odnoklassniki and two for posting on Facebook.
The arrests have tarred VK with a reputation for being “too compliant” with the authorities, and is now making it harder for them to see what is posted or who posted it.
VK managing director Andrey Rogozov said the social network had begun implementing new privacy features due to the rise in criminal prosecutions in Russia for reposts and likes. Changes include making photos private by default, allowing only the original poster to see which users had reposted their material, and ultimately leading to the ability for users to make their profile entirely private, BCS Global Markets reports. Rogozov also said that more changes to the social network are in the works.
“Ongoing reports about criminal charges for social network posts are likely to lead to changes in features, user behaviour, and ultimately law enforcement practice but do not represent a fundamental threat to VK's business, we believe,” BCS GM said in a note.
Related Content
News
Czech prosecutors indict former president's top aide for embezzlement
Vratislav Mynar was at the centre of many of the scandals surrounding Milos Zeman's two terms as president.
Moldova's pro-Russian opposition forms new political bloc at Moscow meeting
Fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor seeks to consolidate pro-Russian opposition ahead of autumn presidential election.
Iran eyes overseas power plant development
Iran plans to expand its power plant development projects overseas, including renewable energy generation.
UK’s Cameron addresses British “lack of seriousness” in Central Asia with five-day tour
Urges region’s five nations to tackle shadow trading equipping Russian war machine. Awkward fact is that much of the trade is made up of redirected deliveries from Britain.
North Macedonia’s presidential election to test commitment to EU accession
Slow accession progress and unhappiness with ruling coalition’s policies may push voters towards opposition VMRO-DPMNE candidate.
Most Read
-
COLLINGWOOD: Ukraine’s power blackout means a dark future
1 day ago
-
Armenia and Azerbaijan announce first border delimitation deal since the collapse of the USSR
1 day ago
-
Mysterious predator dubbed “Goat Sucker” causes panic in Iraq
1 day ago
-
Don't mention the "D" word - Ukraine
3 days ago
-
UK’s Cameron addresses British “lack of seriousness” in Central Asia with five-day tour
13 hours ago
-
Russia’s war economy boosted by rising oil prices
7 days ago
-
Ukraine's birth rate plummets to 300-year low as country’s population collapses
5 days ago
-
Fresh evidence suggests that the April 2022 Istanbul peace deal to end the war in Ukraine was stillborn
6 days ago
-
Oil continues to flow to Israel via Turkey despite Erdogan’s vehement speeches on plight of Gaza
5 months ago
-
Iran vs Israel: Who is better equipped for war?
9 days ago
-
Russia could pay off its entire external debt tomorrow, in cash
23 days ago
-
Speculation swirls of “Men in Blue” in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack linked to FSB
28 days ago
-
Albanians campaign on social media to keep bus bridge created in freak accident
1 year ago
-
BRICS announce a blockchain-based payment system to create a common currency
26 days ago
-
UBN: Russia could take the Baltic states in 48 hours
1 month ago