Apple could be forced to pay fines or suspend all activities across Russia for three months if the company is found guilty of violating the country’s ‘gay propaganda’ law.
Earlier this year, the BBC reported that Russia might ban gay emojis from social media because they infringed on laws against “gay propaganda.” Russian Senator Mikhail Marchenko complained the emojis “promoted non-traditional sexual relationships,” “denied family values,” and showed “disrespect for parents and other family members.”
Now, according to Gay Star News, it looks like Apple is being sued for violating Russia’s “gay propaganda” law because the company included emojis of same-sex couples in their recent update.
Attorney Yaroslav Mikhailov complained that Apple, run by CEO Tim Cook, who is gay, was breaking the law by promoting gay relationships to children. He explained that he filed a complaint with the Russian children’s rights ombudsman and it was later forwarded to local law enforcement.
“The police concluded that my complaint was justified, and opened a case on an administrative offense,” Mikhailov said.
Today, Newsweek notes Apple could be fined up to one million rubles (just over US $15,000) if they are found guilty of violating the gay propaganda law. If it does not pay the fine, Apple could be forced to suspend all activities across Russia for three months.
This isn’t the first time Apple has been accused of violating the gay propaganda law. Earlier this year, Alexander Starovoitov, a member of Russia’s parliament, complained that Apple violated the law when they delivered U2’s latest album to a half-billion iTunes users for free.
The cover of the “Songs of Innocence” album showed the band’s drummer embracing his 18-year-old son, both of them shirtless. Starovoitov believed the picture showed two men “in a display of non-traditional sexual relations.”
Last year, Tim Cook also made headlines when he pushed for Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ACT), making it illegal to make hiring or firing decisions based on sexual orientation or gender identity. There are still 32 states where you can be fired for being LGBT.
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