Russian Parliament backs bill enabling Moscow to block US social media giants

Proposed laws could see Moscow gain powers to restrict access to US social media giants if they “discriminate” against Russian media and levy big fines on platforms that do not delete banned content.

Authors of the two bills, passed by the Parliament’s Lower House on Wednesday local time, said infractions by YouTube and Facebook demonstrated the need for the legislation.

The legislation is part of a push to increase Russia’s internet sovereignty and it has fuelled fears of…