Russia has blocked access to the online platform Wattpad due to its failure to remove content deemed prohibited by Russian law. Roskomnadzor, the country’s communications regulator, announced the restriction on June 18, citing Wattpad’s “systematic disregard for requirements to remove prohibited information,” including what it refers to as “LGBT propaganda.”

The decision to block Wattpad follows previous warnings and fines issued to the platform for not removing the specified content. According to Interfax, Roskomnadzor had considered the ban for a week, noting that Wattpad’s owner had been administratively penalized three times for failing to remove prohibited information, accumulating 5.3 million rubles in unpaid fines.

Wattpad, a Canadian company founded in 2006, serves as a global online community for writers and readers. The platform allows users to post and access a wide range of literary works, including articles, stories, fan fiction, poems, and novels. Registered users can access over 10 million books, publish their work, gain popularity, and connect with other writers and readers.

*The LGBT movement has been recognized as extremist and banned in Russia.