Ukraine: US condemns Odessa violence as dozens die

[Igel]

71. vKontakte should be known to all by now.

The young guy that was the founder of the "In contact" (which is what v kontakte means) social media site was recently forced out. That was what, 2-3 weeks ago. The story's a bit convoluted, with a resignation, withdrawn resignation, resignation withdrawal that might have been accepted but which was actually never unaccepted, etc. The founder felt compelled to leave his fatherland rather quickly.

He just got citizenship in Nevis and St. Kitts. Wealthy guy. His main problem was that he no use for Putin and resisted submitting control over vKontakte and its user content to the "Internet oversight" committee and functionaries. While all the resignation/withdrawal stuff is a mess, the bit about control and oversight is straightforward and has been from the get-go.

His replacement at the head of vKontakte is a Putin buddy. It's now social media with a possible slant. Lots of the site are as before, but you have to watch out because it now has explicit editorial control over things that might matter to the PTB.

It's no longer the Russian Facebook and less so every day.