Russia Is So 'Anti-Gay' That They Might Ban Facebook...

Facebook isn't friends with Russia.

Earlier this year, the social media site came under fire from Russian legislators after it was seen to break the nation's strict blogging laws - which states that bloggers with more than 3,000 daily readers must publish their content under their real names and register with the government. Google, Twitter and Facebook were all contacted by Russia's media authority Roskomnadzor, requesting that they comply with the law or face a national block.

Now, the Orwellian-toned Roskomnadzor is stepping up its Facebook opposition, suggesting it could block the social network for its use of "gay" emoji.

Russian senator Mikhail Marchenko of the far-right Liberal Democrat Party has complained that Facebook's same-sex emoji could well be in violation of the nation's 'homosexual propaganda' laws. "These emoji of non-traditional sexual orientation are seen by all users of the social network, a large portion of whom are minors," reads Marchenko's complaint. "Propaganda of homosexuality is banned under the laws and under the pillars of tradition that exist here in our country."

The youth group of Vladimir Putin's political party, the Young Guard, is set to investigate the claims, though they are yet to receive a formal order to do so.

Many commentators have stated the oddly specific nature of Marchenko's attack: Apple, Twitter and many other web groups use the same-sex emoji, yet they are yet to be singled out for investigation. 

We'll let you know any other bemusing stories of Russia's war with the internet as and when they emerge. Give it a couple of days...