TikTok restricts pro-Russian account in Lithuania after media regulator’s intervention

The social media platform TikTok has restricted access in Lithuania to the account @kartumesnenugalimi following a request from the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission (LRTK), which flagged the account for potential violations of national law, LRT reports.

The LRTK stated that the account systematically published content featuring symbols of Russia and the USSR alongside pro-Russian narratives. In the current geopolitical context, such material could be interpreted as encouraging violations of Lithuania’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while promoting Russian imperialist narratives, the commission said.

Some posts also openly displayed USSR symbols, the public distribution of which is prohibited under Lithuania’s Code of Administrative Offences. The LRTK requested TikTok remove the account and provide information to identify its administrator.

This is not the first time the LRTK has contacted TikTok over potentially illegal content. Previous interventions addressed issues including disinformation, coordinated inauthentic activity, hate speech, and the distribution of harmful material to minors.

The commission emphasised that the Digital Services Act (DSA) obliges platforms to respond promptly to reports of illegal content, ensure transparency, and implement effective user protection measures.