A Russian court has banned the use of Facebook and Instagram after labeling the app’s parent company Meta as an “extremist organisation”. according to for the state news agency RIA Novosti.
This move comes after the Russian prosecutor general’s office appeal petitioned a Moscow court to have Meta designated as an “extremist organization” for allowing users in some countries to call for violence against President Vladimir Putin and Russian soldiers participating in the country’s invasion of Ukraine. WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, is not included in the ban.
Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Individuals will not face criminal charges for using Facebook or Instagram. “The use of Meta products by individuals and legal entities should not be considered participation in extremist activities,” said a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. told state media agency TASS. “Individuals will not be liable for simply using Meta’s services.”
Also citing prosecutors, the Cyber Freedom Project, a Russian human rights organization, said on Telegram channel that paying for ads on Instagram and Facebook can now be seen as funding an extremist organization. Any individual, business or website with links to Facebook and Instagram, as well as anyone with a business card displaying the app’s logo, could face charges. This is a public demonstration of the symbols of an extremist organization.
The ruling will allow Roskomnadzor, the Russian government’s communications monitoring office, to immediately block Meta’s social networks and close related offices in Russia.
Russia blocked access Facebook earlier this month. A week later, Roskomnadzor announced it would also block Instagram in response to Meta notification that it would allow Facebook and Instagram users in Ukraine to post “forms of political expression” that would normally violate the company’s rules on violent speech, such as “death before invaders.” Russian strategy.”
RIA Novosti writes that what Russian prosecutors believe is “radical information” being spread on Facebook and Instagram “threatens both individuals and society at large, and that the company violated its own rules.” by authorizing the publication of calls for the killing of Russian troops.”
In February, Meta blocked access to Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik in the EU. Other US tech companies, including Google and Appleresponded similarly to the invasion by blocking access to Russian state media.
