BBC

Instagram has blocked posts in Russia relating to corruption claims made by the country's most prominent opposition leader. It follows a demand by the country's internet censor that the Facebook-owned service restrict access to posts on its platform connected to allegations made by Alexei Navalny. Its response contrasts with that of Google's YouTube service. It had been ordered to block several clips before the end of Feb 14. But it has taken no such action.

Google says it will soon alter its Search tool to provide "diverse perspectives" where appropriate. The change will affect the boxed text that often appears at the top of results pages - known as a Snippet - which contains a response sourced from a third-party site.

At present, Google provides only a single box but it will sometimes show multiple Snippets in the future. The change could help Google tackle claims it sometimes spreads lies. But one expert warned the move introduced fresh risks of its own.

Campaigners who want more autonomy for resources-rich Siberia have had their pages blocked on Russia's most-popular social network. The prosecutor-general's office ordered the Vkontakte site to block the “March to Federate Siberia” page, which now carries a message saying: "Access is limited on the orders of the law-enforcement agencies."

Apple has been criticised by the European Commission for not offering any "concrete and immediate" plans to stop users being misled by "free" apps.

The EC is now forcing Apple and Google, the biggest vendors of apps, to make the "true cost" of games clear. The EC said national authorities had the option to take legal action against companies that were deemed not to be complying with Europe's guidance on free apps.

Apple has failed in its attempt to get a Chinese company's voice-recognition patent ruled invalid.

The verdict threatens Apple's ability to offer its voice-controlled virtual assistant, Siri, in the country. Shanghai-based Zhizhen Network Technology has sought to block Apple from selling products with the app installed, saying it infringed its rights. Apple said it would pursue an appeal with the Beijing Higher People's Court.

BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media will send "educational" letters to customers believed to be downloading illegally.

But a document seen by the BBC shows that rights holders are set to make do with considerably weaker measures than originally asked for. The first letters -- known as "alerts" -- are expected to be sent out in 2015.

The deal has been struck with the BPI, which represents the British music industry, and the Motion Picture Association (MPA), which covers film.

The bodies had originally suggested the letters should tell repeat infringers about possible punitive measures. They also wanted access to a database of known illegal downloaders, opening the possibility of further legal action against individuals. A maximum of four alerts -- by either email or physical letter - can be sent to an individual customer account. Language will "escalate in severity" - but will not contain threats or talk of consequences for the accused users. After four alerts, no further action will be taken by the ISPs.