Netflix and TikTok join Russian boycott and suspend services

They join a large and growing list

Joining the likes of Microsoft, EA, Apple, Dell and Snap, the two large companies join an ever-growing list of boycotts of Russia.

Last week, Netflix had announced it was postponing the filming of four Russian original shows. One show included is 'Anna K', a modern retelling of the story of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

The company also refused to host 20 Russian state-run channels which they were obliged to do under Russian law.

Now, it is going one step further and entirely shutting down its services within the country.

⚡️Netflix joins western companies in suspending services in Russia, a company spokesperson said on March 6.

Nearly 1 million subscribers in Russia will no longer be able to watch the American streaming entertainment service that operates in almost every country of the world.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 6, 2022

"Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia," a spokesperson for Netflix said.

TikTok announced Sunday it had "no choice" but to suspend live-streaming and new videos in Russia. This comes after President Vladimir Putin signed a new censorship law banning "fake" news on the invasion of Ukraine. This included calling the invasion "an invasion" or the war in Ukraine "a war."

The breaking of this new law could lead to a 15 year prison sentence. It was quickly stamped and brought into law by both Kremlin-run houses in parliament in Russia.

2/ 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.

— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) March 6, 2022

TikTok spokesperson Hilary McQuaide said the app in Russia now appears in "view-only" mode. It won't let people post or see new videos or livestreams. They can still see older videos, but not if they came from outside the country.

Many large companies and brands continue to pull out of Russia as the country also deals with hefty sanctions amidst its invasion of Ukraine. Ikea and Nike are refusing to complete online orders. Visa, Mastercard and American Express also cut all services, apart from domestic purchases.