Out in the World: LGBTQ news from Europe and Asia
RUSSIA The Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media agency, abbreviated as Roskomnadzor, has launched an investigation into the language learning app Duolingo for allegedly spreading “LGBTQ propaganda.” The popular learning app teaches more than 40 languages to more than 60 million users worldwide.
Russian media news outlet Novaya Gazeta reported that a complaint, filed by a group Radetel, based in Novosibirsk in central Russia, and claims on its social media and website that it is on a mission to protect “public morality, culture and traditional values,” accused the learning app of violations of Article 5 the Russian “on the protection of children from information harmful to their health and development” law which specifies the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations as detrimental to children’s health and development.” Russian state media outlet TASS reported that Roskomnadzor confirmed that the agancy would be investigating Duolingo for potential “distribution of information that promotes LGBTQ.” For its part as defined on its website, Duolingo states: “Duolingo believes deeply in diversity and representation.
This made it a no-brainer to include all types of characters of different ages, ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations.” The app’s statement goes on reading: “The second reason is our learners.
Something really unique about Duolingo is the extremely vast and diverse audience for our content: Language learners of all ages, from all around the world.
